WARRINGTON Wolves legend Toa Kohe-Love and comedian Adam Hills were on the teamsheet for the UK’s first disability rugby league match at the weekend.
Around 1,000 spectators were present at Victoria Park as the Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation’s physical disability team took on their Leeds Rhinos counterparts on Sunday, February 4.
Lining up for the Wire were former centre Toa Kohe-Love and ex-England international fullback Shaun Briscoe as well as Adam Hills - host of Channel 4’s the Last Leg - and seven-year-old Longford youngster Leon Hoey, who has cerebral palsy.
Appearing for the opposition were Hills’ the Last Leg colleague Alex Brooker and ex-army soldier Simon Brown, who lost the sight in his left eye and has only 20 per cent vision in his right when he was shot in the head in Iraq in 2006.
The teams are out! Come on the Wire! pic.twitter.com/3UrwhmQ66G
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) 4 February 2018
And it was the visitors who triumphed 10-22 despite tries from Hills and Chris Whittle for Warrington, plus a conversion from Craig Jensen.
Neil Kelly, Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation director, said: “Adam and Alex had a ball, but they would have felt it in the morning because both teams had a good dig - Adam especially took a few hits but he just said that he felt alive.
“Adam has been travelling up to train every Tuesday out of his own pocket , and it was the first game Alex had ever played.
“I’d forgotten how tough rugby league is. I took some big hits today!”
— Warrington Wolves (@wolvesrl) 4 February 2018
We caught up with The Last Leg’s @adamhillscomedy and @alex_brooker after both took part in the UK’s first ever PDRL match today pic.twitter.com/QRsNsjNEPj
“Toa and Shaun both got a bit of stick - particular Shaun, with him sticking a Warrington shirt on.
“You could just feel a real positive vibe from the crowd - everyone was there for one thing and it was a great atmosphere.
“It was a fantastic day and we’re really pleased - it was like a proper Super League fixture.
“Although it does hurt that we got beat, it was a tremendous occasion."
Congratulations to @RugbyLeeds for winning the first ever Physical Disability Rugby League game against us @WWCLSFoundation 22-10. This photo of @alex_brooker and I sums up the result. pic.twitter.com/CYTB6AsYns
— Adam Hills (@adamhillscomedy) 4 February 2018
Disability rugby adapts the sport's rules to suit its players, with each team allowed two able-bodied players who cannot score, kick or run more than 10m.
Two players on each team can only be tagged and not tackled but all others play full contact rugby, while there are unlimited subs, no scrums and no drop goals during the two 25-minute halves.
Representatives from other clubs were in attendance on Sunday and are planning on setting up their own disabled teams, while the Warrington Wolves side are hoping to travel to Australia later this year to face the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Olympic Park.
Neil added: “Leeds are now going to entertain us with the return fixture in May, and other clubs were down here watching on Sunday.
“Wakefield are planning to launch a team, so we might hopefully be able to get a game against them in the meantime if they’re up and running.
“Now the big vision is to play the game in Australia."
Relive the historic match above with pictures from photographer Mike Boden.
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