Sports Academy

John Laing Rugby Cup

Spencer Kelly and Edward Common (both DMD) took part in the first ever John Laing Rugby Cup held at the Percy Hedley Sports Academy in Newcastle.

Powerchair users from all over the country were invited to attend this inaugural event to help promote another sport for powerchair users (they presently only have football).

The event was held over Saturday and Sunday (21/22 July 2007), sponsored by John Laing, and supported by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), players from the Newcastle Falcons, the Percy Hedley Sports Academy, John Laing and a multitude of rugby development coaches.

Spencer and Edward, along with a lot of the other players in attendance, had never played rugby before and so Saturday morning was set aside to coach all the players in this new sport. Once the guys had mastered the rules, practice games were set up and the quality of the rugby was soon of the highest order. Several of the coaches and professional players were invited to join in these games (using borrowed sports powerchairs) but couldn't compete at the same level as the 'regulars'.

The players were put into 5-a-side teams for the afternoon session and the competition began, continuing into Sunday, and culminating with semi finals and the final in the late afternoon. Spencer and Edward's team reached the final of the competition with Edward scoring the winning 'try' in yet another very competitive match.

Spence and Edward also play powerchair football to a high standard but this is the first time they have played on the same team. Spence lives in Watford and plays for Aspire, Edward lives in Newcastle and plays for Northern Thunder. They are usually fierce rivals having played against each other in the National Powerchair Football Final held earlier in the year, with Aspire winning in a very close game.

Spencer now has the honour of being the only person in the country to be a National Powerchair Football Champion and a winner of the first ever John Laing Rugby Cup. He would be happy to swap places with Edward though, as Edward, although a losing finalist in the football, has been selected to represent England in the Powerchair Football World Cup to be held in Japan later in the year.

For further information about Powerchair Rugby and more detailed information about the John Laing Rugby Cup, please contact Adam Parry, Sports Development Officer at the Percy Hedley Sports Academy on 0191 268 7116 or via e-mail at a.parry@percyhedley.org.uk.

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