Jodie Boyd-Ward (born 10 October 1992)[2] is a wheelchair rugby league footballer who has played for three different nations at three consecutive Wheelchair World Cups. Boyd-Ward represented Wales at the 2021 tournament. Boyd-Ward has previously represented Ireland at the 2013 World Cup and England in the 2017 World Cup. Boyd-Ward plays domestic rugby for Leeds Rhinos wheelchair rugby league team.
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 10 October 1992 Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [1] As of 7 March 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Boyd-Ward was born in Wolverhampton.[1] She began to develop mobility issues as a youngster and was diagnosed with arthritis.[3] Initially she played wheelchair basketball before giving rugby league a try through her local sports club in Wolverhampton, a sport that at first she hated.[4] Encouraged by her grandfather, Boyd-Ward persevered with rugby and was approached by the Leeds Rhinos wheelchair team to move to Yorkshire[4] Through her parents Boyd-Ward qualified to represent Ireland and was selected by Ireland to play in the inaugural Wheelchair Four Nations in 2012.[5] Following her performances in the Four Nations Boyd-Ward was a member of the Ireland team during the 2013 Wheelchair World Cup.[6]
The following year Boyd-Ward changed allegiance to play for England in the 2014 Four Nations tournament and went on to make 20 appearances between 2014 and 2019 including the 2017 World Cup.[7][3]
In 2021 Boyd-Ward was approached by Wales to play for the Wales national team. Qualified to represent the country through her grandfather, Boyd-Ward make her debut for Wales in 2021 against Ireland in the Celtic Cup.[7] Boyd-Ward was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup played in November 2022 in England.[8]
At domestic level Boyd-Ward has played for Leeds Rhinos since 2013 and has won all the domestic titles and was part of the Leeds team that won the Treble (Challenge Cup, League Leaders and Super League Grand Final) in 2021 as the team went unbeaten. Boyd-Ward is the current captain of Leeds Rhinos.[9]
References
edit- ^ a b "Player Profile –Jodie Boyd-Ward". Wales Rugby League. 7 March 2024. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Jodie Boyd-Ward". National Rugby League. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Good luck to our colleague Jodie in the wheelchair rugby World Cup". ASDA. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Wheelchair RL: Jodie Boyd-Ward blazing a trail for Leeds Rhinos and England". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 November 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "England win Wheelchair Four Nations". European Rugby League. 9 July 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Who are wheelchair rugby league's stars to watch?". BBC Sport. 1 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Jodie Boyd-Ward looks forward to facing up against England on Saturday – Wales Rugby League (WRL)". Wales Rugby League. 24 June 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Ibbetson, Stephen (16 October 2022). "In-form Wales confirm wheelchair squad for World Cup". TotalRL. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Welsh international Jodie Boyd-Ward named Rhinos Wheelchair captain". Leeds Rhinos Foundation. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2024.