Leicester student in world Wheelchair Rugby Challenge
A Leicester doctoral student has described the ‘great experience’ of taking part in the inaugural BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge.
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby announced 12 players to compete in the BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge, which took place from 12 to 16 October 2015, at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
PhD History student Nick Cummins (pictured) was among those selected. Nick’s PhD project is about US foreign policy and Iran during the Reagan years.
He said: “It was a big honour to be selected to represent Great Britain at this prestigious tournament which brought together the best teams in the world. It provided a great opportunity for us to compete for a medal on home soil.
“The University has awarded me a gold Alumni sports scholarship which has really helped my training and enabled me to have regular strength and conditioning sessions with my trainer Mark Simmons at the University's sports facilities.”
At age 19 whilst studying at another university, Nick contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia. The illness resulted in the loss of several digits and left Nick with severe distal weakness of the limbs. Looking for an opportunity to get back into sport and to assist his rehabilitation, Nick made contact with the East Midlands Marauders wheelchair rugby team after watching the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. Having featured in the GB development squad from 2011-2014, Nick made his international debut in January 2015.