Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair stars included in England World Cup Train-On Squad
The IRL Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup takes place in Australia later this year
Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair stars Luis Domingos and Chris Haynes have been named in Tom Coyd MBE's 12-man England Wheelchair World Cup Train-On Squad ahead of this year's IRL Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup in Australia.
The Eagles pair have earned their places alongside Jack Brown, Rob Hawkins and Finlay O'Neill (Halifax Panthers), Josh Butler, Nathan Collins and Tristan Norfolk (Leeds Rhinos), Mason Billington, Joe Coyd and Lewis King (London Roosters), and Josh Edwards (Hull FC), who is the only player in the squad yet to make his international debut.
Both players have enjoyed standout seasons with the Eagles, playing a key role in helping the team secure three victories from their opening eight fixtures of the Betfred Wheelchair Super League campaign, during only their second season in the top flight.
Since joining the club at the start of the season from Castleford Tigers, Domingos has made an immediate impact, scoring an impressive 20 tries in just nine appearances. His prolific form has seen him become the Eagles’ leading try scorer this season, although he is only two tries ahead of teammate Haynes, who has also enjoyed a remarkable campaign with 17 tries in 10 appearances, so far this year.
England Wheelchair Head Coach Tom Coyd MBE said: "We have selected a group of players who are in excellent form and competing at the highest level on a weekly basis in the Super League and at our training camps.
"They are a fantastic fit for the way we want to play and, between them, bring a range of skills and strengths that we believe can combine into an exciting and relentless team.
"This squad has also made a real commitment to investing in their relationships with one another, which will be vital as we continue to build our togetherness towards the World Cup."
Also recognised for their efforts were fellow Sheffield Eagles Wheelchair players Stephen Reilly and Joe Wink-Simmonds. Despite both being members of the England National Performance Squad, they have narrowly missed out on selection for the Train-On Squad on this occasion.
Coyd praised the pair for their continued development, adding: "I also want to acknowledge the contributions of Stephen Reilly and Joe Wink-Simmonds, who, despite missing out on selection, have demonstrated their potential and will remain in our future plans. I am really keen to support them both in their continued development, in partnership with Sheffield."
The final England Wheelchair squad for the Rugby League Wheelchair World Cup in Australia will be announced later this year.