Tom Halliwell Explained

Tom Halliwell
Fullname:Thomas Edward Halliwell
Birth Date:13 July 1999
Club1:Oulton Invaders Juniors (Running)
Year1end:c. 2012-2013
Club2:Leeds Rhinos
Year2start:c. 2012–2013
Year2end:present
Teama:England
Yearastart:2015
Yearaend:present

Tom Halliwell is an English wheelchair rugby league player who currently plays for Leeds Rhinos in RFL Wheelchair Super League and the England national wheelchair rugby league team whom he has captained since 2021.

In the King's 2023 Birthday Honours he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to wheelchair rugby league football.[1]

Background

Tom Halliwell is an able-bodied wheelchair rugby league player. He originally played the running game at youth level but suffered a severe leg fracture, aged 13, while at Oulton Invaders.[2] Following initial recovery, but while still unable to play the running game, Halliwell took up wheelchair rugby league with Leeds Rhinos. He never returned to the running game, having established himself as part of the Leeds squad.[3] [4]

Career

Club

Tom Halliwell was part of the Leeds squad which won their first ever national championship in 2018 and was named MVP.[5] He again was a key player in Leeds's 2021 Super League Grand Final victory against Layland Warriors.[6]

International

Halliwell made his England debut aged 16 at the European Championship in 2015. England won the tournament and Halliwell was their top scorer with 88 points.[7] He represented England at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in 2017[8] where England finished runners-up losing to France in the final.[9] Halliwell was announced as captain in June 2021 ahead of a friendly against Wales.[10] Halliwell scored three tries in the game winning 102–22.[11] His first World Cup as captain was in 2022, following the postponement of the 2021 tournament.[12] England finished the tournament as champions, beating France 28–24.[13] He played in England's 2023 international series wheelchair game against France.[14]

Honours

Leeds

England

Orders

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rhinos Wheelchair stars named in King's Birthday honours. Leanne. Flynn. 16 June 2023.
  2. Web site: England Wheelchair rugby star taking inspiration from Luke Gale and Nathan Cleary. 18 November 2020. Love Rugby League.
  3. Web site: Tom Halliwell.
  4. Web site: Rugby League wheelchair World Cup winner delivers inclusivity session to students - News. Leeds Trinity University.
  5. Web site: Leeds Rhinos claim first-ever Grand Final title . Rugby-League.com . 24 September 2018 . 17 May 2023.
  6. Web site: Leeds Rhinos win Wheelchair Super League Grand Final . 19 September 2021 . 17 May 2023.
  7. Web site: Euro success for Rhinos 4 . Spider-Y . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161208114205/http://spider-y.org.uk/19-blogs/rhinos/106-euro-success-for-rhinos-4 . 8 December 2016.
  8. Web site: England Wheelchair RL announce World Cup squad. www.rugby-league.com.
  9. Web site: Des Guerriers d'Exception!. 29 July 2017.
  10. Web site: Tom Halliwell to lead England Wheelchair against Wales. www.rugby-league.com.
  11. Web site: England 102 v 22 Wales. europeanrugbyleague.com.
  12. Web site: Rugby League World Cup 2021: Official wheelchair squads. 3 October 2022. National Rugby League.
  13. News: England beat France to win Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup - reaction. BBC Sport .
  14. Web site: Halliwell excited for Leeds homecoming. www.rugby-league.com.

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