BBC presenter, lacrosse international among new faces in Wheelchair Celtic Cup
Former BBC Newsround presenter Martin Dougan, Scotland lacrosse representative Olivia Fulton and former rugby union player Calum Davidson will make their international Wheelchair Rugby League debuts in this weekend's Celtic Cup.
Dougan has previously played wheelchair basketball for Scotland, while Fulton is a lacrosse international and Davidson took up Wheelchair Rugby League after injury ended his rugby union career.
"In the short time I have been playing Wheelchair Rugby League I have put a lot of hard work in which is paying off," Fulton posted on Instagram.
"The changes mentally have been unreal, from really having not much to focus on to having a goal again has boosted me no end.
"It has been a whirlwind of a few months having just started playing the sport, to becoming vice-captain of Edinburgh Giants, our first games, being invited into the Scotland Performance Squad, first Scotland training to now getting a call up."
The Scotland debutants will play alongside Graeme Stewart, heritage player No.1, who looks to become their most-capped player and new captain Daniel Grant.
Graeme Stewart is set to become Scotland's most capped player (Getty Images)
Head coach, Mark Roughsedge, said: “We come into the Celtic Cup on the back of a World Cup that has launched the sport to new levels and has seen the birth of a Scottish premiership, a dedicated league in Scotland and two new clubs, players from which we are able to call into the squad for the first time.
"This is the next step in the programme we’re developing in Scotland.”
The eighth Wheelchair Celtic Cup takes place at the Oriam Performance Centre, Edinburgh on Sunday.
Wales are the holders, having won all the seven tournaments they have entered, Ireland beating Scotland in the inaugural encounter in 2015.
The Welsh, whose opening game against Ireland will be their 50th wheelchair international – second only behind England - have Alex Powell on debut while Harry Jones is set to become the most capped player for the nation across all the versions of the sport.
Alan Caron takes over as head coach for a second stint, Stephen Jones moving to team manager.
Alan Caron is the new Wales coach (Getty Images)
“We’re going through a full transition of how we move forward,” said Caron.
“Hopefully we can retain a Cup that means so much to us. Ireland will show a lot of promise and Scotland are moving up the ranks, especially now they have a Wheelchair Premier League.”
Ireland head coach Phil Roberts, in his first game in charge since taking over from Damian McCabe who switches to team manager, named a number of new players.
He has called up four debutants, Joe Calcott, Mel Griffith, Cian Horgan and Matt Wooloff from Wigan, who switches allegiance after playing for USA at RLWC2021, and includes two teenagers, Cian Horgan and Oran Spain, who made his debut in the World Cup.
Oran Spain debuted for Ireland at RLWC2021 (Getty Images)
“I am incredibly excited to see this team in action,” Roberts commented. “A couple of our young debutants have yet to play a match, but their raw talent could not be ignored.
"Having half of our squad on each side of the Irish Sea brings challenges but we've had record numbers at training in Dublin and our goal for a domestic wheelchair competition in Ireland is on track. The Celtic Cup provides us with an opportunity to measure our progress.”
WHEELCHAIR CELTIC CUP SCHEDULE - Sunday 18 June, Oriam Centre Edinburgh
Scotland v Ireland (kick off 12pm)
Wales v Ireland (2pm)
Scotland v Wales (4pm)
Scotland Squad
Calum Davidson, Olivia Fulton (Edinburgh Giants), Paul Hartley, Neil Johnston, Pete Lauder, Graeme Stewart, Cadyn Thomson, John Willans (Glasgow Rugby League) Daniel Grant, Michael Grant (Gravesend Dynamite) Martin Dougan (Rochdale Hornets) Callum Young (Warrington Wolves)
Ireland Squad
Peter Johnston (C), Rick Rodgers (Argonauts), Joe Calcott (Halifax Panthers), Toby Burton-Carter (Warrington Wolves), Matt Wooloff (Wigan Warriors), Paddy Forbes, Mel Griffith, Cian Horgan, James McCarthy (VC), Phil Roberts, Oran Spain (unattached).
Wales Squad
Gary Preece, Martin Lane, (Hereford Harriers), Scott Trigg-Turner (London Roosters), Harry Jones, Lucie Roberts, Mason Baker, Stephen Halsey, Stuart Williams, (North Wales Crusaders), Alex Powell, Lee Sargent, (Torfaen Tigers), Mark Williams, (Wigan Warriors)
