Wheelchair

Betfred Wheelchair Super League returns this weekend

18 Jun 2025

Leeds Rhinos will begin their defence of the Betfred Wheelchair Super League against newcomers Edinburgh Giants when the competition kicks off this weekend (June 20/21) at The University of Edinburgh (KO 2pm).

The Rhinos clinched their first Super League title since their treble-winning season of 2021 in October, surging back from a 12-point deficit late in the first half to gain revenge on Halifax Panthers for a Grand Final defeat two years ago.

Their opponents are a brand-new name on the fixture list for 2025 - who are also bringing Super League back to Scotland for the first time since Magic Weekend was hosted at Murrayfield Stadium back in 2010.

“It's going to be a great day for the sport,” admits Edinburgh Head Coach Martyn Gill. “Equally, I don't want us to get too wrapped up in the occasion and obviously, once the once we get into it, we just need to focus on the game.”

The Giants are a new outfit in the wheelchair game and were founded two years ago by the former Leeds Rhinos and England head coach, who relocated due to his Scottish wife, and he’s keen to not put any pressure on the developing side.

“We're still a very new team, we’ve been going just over two years, so a lot of the focus has still been on development and the players getting used to the sport.

“We've had to ramp up our training in the off-season. We've also had a look at our own processes internally and started to put a few more things in place. For example, we’ve really focused on building out the analysis side of things and making sure that we're continuing to learn and grow.”

Martyn’s team will feature a strong Scottish contingent which is seen as a huge positive for the growth of the international game.

“It’s key - obviously wearing both hats as the Edinburgh coach - I’m pleased from a club perspective, but equally as the Scotland head coach as well, I think it will be massive.

“We have to make sure that the Scottish players are used to playing at a high intensity and hopefully it will also attract new players to the sport knowing that there's that national presence at the highest level.

“Whilst playing against some of the top players might be challenging at times while we acclimatise, it's also going to be an opportunity to make sure that we're learning and growing and hopefully improving not just at club level, but all the way through to the national team.”

Edinburgh entered the Wheelchair Challenge Trophy last year and reached the final, eventually losing out to Hereford Harriers. This season’s campaign saw them fall short to fellow newcomers Sheffield Eagles and Martyn knows there is still a lot of pregress to be made.

“There's a couple of games that we’ve earmarked to say ‘actually, do you know what there’s potential we could go and win there.’ But we also know we’re the underdogs and I think that was rubber stamped after losing to Sheffield in the in the Challenge Cup.

“We just have to be resilient, focus more on our performance and hopefully cause a few upsets. If we can do that throughout the course of the season and hold out for our first win then that will be a massive first milestone for us.”

The Giants aren’t the only newcomers this season, with Sheffield Eagles also included following their triumph in the Wheelchair Championship last season – they face 2023 Grand Final winners Wigan Warriors at Robin Park Arena (KO 3pm).

There’ll also be a repeat of the Wheelchair Challenge Cup Final when London Roosters host Halifax Panthers (KO 2pm) with head coach Tom Coyd looking for revenge following the capital sides defeat to the Panthers last weekend.

After a bye in the opening round, Hull FC kick off their campaign in Round Two with a trip to the Sedbergh Sports Centre to face Wayne Boardman’s Panthers.

Sheffield and Edinburgh join the existing five sides in Super League. Each of the seven teams will face one another home or away over seven rounds of fixtures, before the division splits into a top four and bottom three competition from Saturday, 23rd August.

The final rounds of the season will then be played at central venues and will act as the play-offs before the Grand Final which is set take place on Sunday, 28th September at Manchester Basketball Centre – and shown live on Sky Sports.