Rob Hawkins (wheelchair rugby league)
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| Full name | Robert Hawkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | c. 2001–2002 Halifax, West Yorkshire England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rob Hawkins is an English wheelchair rugby league player who currently plays for Halifax Panthers in RFL Wheelchair Super League and the England national wheelchair rugby league team.
Background
[edit]Rob Hawkins is a disabled wheelchair rugby league player. He suffers with chronic fatigue syndrome which he had diagnosed in 2014,[1] after being bedridden for 18 months.[2][3]
Career
[edit]
Rob Hawkins began playing wheelchair rugby league in 2014 following an improvement in his chronic fatigue syndrome.[2]
In 2020, Rob Hawkins won Young Player of the Year for 2019 at the Wheelchair Rugby League Awards,[4][5] after helping Halifax the inaugural 2019 Super League.[6] He repeated this feat in February 2023, winning Player of the Year for the 2022 season,[4][5] In which he won the 2022 Super League with Halifax, and doing so winning man of the match in the Grand Final.[7][8][9] At the 2024 Man of Steel Awards, Hawkins was named as the Wheelchair Super League Young Player of the Year.[10]
International
[edit]Rob Hawkins made his England debut in 2019, at the tri-nations series against Wales and Scotland.[2] Following a pandemic enforced break in the sport, Hawkins was chosen to represent England at the 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup.[11] He received praise in England's second group game, scoring five tries in a 104–12 win over Spain which qualified England for the semi-finals.[12] England reached the final, beating France 28–24.[13] In 2024, Hawkins played in England's two match test series over France. He scored four tries in the home 66–33 victory, which also saw him win player of the match,[14] before scoring a further two in the 28–32 away defeat.[15] His international performances for the year was recognised with him being awarded the IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot, becoming the youngest player to win the award.[2][3]
Personal life
[edit]In January 2023, Hawkins gave a talk at Shelf Junior and Infant School.[16] In April of the same year, he opened the Children's Community Health Centre in Elland.[1]
Honours
[edit]Halifax
[edit]- Super League (and predecessor tournaments):
England
[edit]Individual
[edit]- IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot
- Wheels of Steel:
- Winners (1) 2022
- Young Player of the Year:
- Winners (1) 2019, 2024
References
[edit]- ^ a b "CHFT Website". www.cht.nhs.uk. 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "Hawkins wins wheelchair 2024 IRL Golden Boot". International Rugby League. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ a b c "Hawkins lands wheelchair Golden Boot award". BBC Sport. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
- ^ a b "RLWC2021 star Rob Hawkins completes double at Wheelchair Rugby League Awards". www.rugby-league.com.
- ^ a b "World Cup winner Hawkins takes Wheelchair Rugby League Player of the Year Award". www.insidethegames.biz. 5 March 2023.
- ^ "Wheelchair finals are just grand for Halifax and Hull". Rugby-League.com. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final: Halifax Panthers win thriller final 52–48 vs Leeds Rhinos". Sky Sports. 2 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Wheelchair Super League Grand Final: Halifax Panthers beat Leeds Rhinos to win title". BBC Sport. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos come up short in thrilling Wheelchair Grand Final against Halifax despite sensational comeback". Serious About Rugby League. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "RL Awards Round-Up as Lewis claims Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel". RFL. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2021: Official wheelchair squads". National Rugby League. 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup: Rob Hawkins scores five tries as England overwhelm Spain". BBC Sport. 6 November 2022.
- ^ "England beat France to win Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup - reaction". BBC Sport.
- ^ "England thump France in wheelchair international". BBC Sport. 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
- ^ "France Wheelchair defeat England in Fassolette-Kielty Trophy". Rugby Football League. 23 November 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "'I liked getting his autograph' - World Cup winner excites pupils by visiting school". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. 25 January 2023.