Halifax Panthers celebrated the club’s special place in the history of Wheelchair Rugby League along with the 2024 Golden Boot winner Rob Hawkins in front of their fans at The Shay for Sunday’s Betfred Championship fixture against London Broncos.
Hawkins was presented with his award, as the outstanding Wheelchair Rugby League player in the world last year, by Panthers Chief Executive Damian Clayton MBE RAF, himself an inductee on the RFL’s Roll of Honour.
Player-coach Wayne Boardman and the rest of the Panthers squad joined Hawkins and Clayton on the pitch as Halifax fans were urged to support their forthcoming campaigns in both the Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup and Super League.
The Panthers have received a bye through the quarter finals of the Cup, so they will kick off their 2025 campaign with a Super League fixture against Hull FC at Sedbergh Sports Centre on Saturday week, May 10 (2pm).
Halifax were the inaugural winners of the Wheelchair Rugby League Challenge Cup in 2015 and preserved their grip on the competition for four seasons until 2018 – but they have not made it to the Final since.
They have fared better in the Betfred Wheelchair Super League, beating Leeds Rhinos in the inaugural Grand Final in 2019 and again in 2022 before losing to the Rhinos in Hull last year – and their 2025 squad has received a huge boost with the return of Jack Brown, the first winner of the Golden Boot in 2019, from Australia.
Halifax was the cradle of Wheelchair Rugby League in England thanks to Malcolm Kielty MBE, the son of the Thrum Hall legend Stan, whose contribution alongside France’s Robert Fassolette is recognised when the countries compete for the Fassolette-Kielty Trophy – currently held by France.
The 2025 Betfred Wheelchair Challenge Cup continues this weekend with the first Quarter Final as Hull FC host Leeds Rhinos, after Sheffield Eagles secured their place in the last eight with an emphatic win against Warrington Wolves last weekend.
The Eagles now face Edinburgh Giants, the other newcomers to the Super League in 2025, in the Quarter Finals on May 10, when London Roosters travel to Wigan Warriors.
