England head coach Tom Coyd will take 10 players to Australia in October Luis Domingos - a Portugal wheelchair basketball international - has been called into England's wheelchair rugby league national performance squad. Domingos, who plays club rugby for Wheelchair Championship side Castleford Tigers, is one of three uncapped players in a 17-strong squad hoping to win places on an autumn tour of Australia. Hull FC's Josh Edwards and Halifax Panthers' Finlay O'Neill, with Domingos, are among nine players added to the initial list of eight who were selected in May. From that group, head coach Coyd will pick a final squad of 10 to fly to Australia in October for a four-match tour. That tour will culminate in a two-Test series against Australia on 30 October and 2 November, with both matches in Gold Coast. They will warm up with two matches against state sides - New South Wales in Sydney on 24 October and Queensland on the Sunshine Coast on 27 October. Domingos played wheelchair rugby league for Leeds before switching to basketball, then returned to join Castleford, and scored the winning try as they beat North Wales Crusaders to win the Wheelchair Challenge Trophy - for second-tier clubs - in April. Coyd said: "He's a really exciting athlete in his chair and is now keen to test himself in wheelchair rugby league again after representing Portugal in basketball â quite a coup for our programme." O'Neill helped Halifax beat London Roosters in last Saturday's Wheelchair Challenge Cup final - and all three uncapped call-ups made an impact in two recent trials at the University of York. Two more members of Halifax's cup-winning side - Nathan Holmes and captain-coach Wayne Boardman - are among the nine added to Coyd's squad. The other four to join up are Roosters pair Mason Billington and Jason Owen, Edwards's Hull FC team-mate Tristan Norfolk and Sheffield Eagles' Chris Haynes. England national performance squad:Sebastien Bechara (Catalans Dragons), Mason Billington (London Roosters), Wayne Boardman (Halifax Panthers), Jack Brown (Halifax Panthers), Josh Butler (Leeds Rhinos), Nathan Collins (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Coyd (London Roosters), Luis Domingos (Castleford Tigers), Josh Edwards (Hull FC), Tom Halliwell (Leeds Rhinos), Rob Hawkins (Halifax Panthers), Chris Haynes (Sheffield Eagles), Nathan Holmes (Halifax Panthers), Lewis King (London Roosters), Tristan Norfolk (Hull FC), Finlay O'Neill (Halifax Panthers), Jason Owen (London Roosters).
Coyd adds Domingos to England wheelchair RL performance squad
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"Luis Domingos Joins England's Wheelchair Rugby League Performance Squad for Australia Tour"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
England's head coach Tom Coyd has expanded the national wheelchair rugby league performance squad by including Luis Domingos, a player with a background in wheelchair basketball. Domingos, who currently plays for the Castleford Tigers in the Wheelchair Championship, is one of three uncapped players joining the 17-member squad. This group is vying for a spot on the upcoming autumn tour to Australia, where they will compete in a four-match series culminating in two Tests against Australia on October 30 and November 2. The squad will first face state sides, with matches scheduled against New South Wales in Sydney on October 24 and Queensland on the Sunshine Coast on October 27. Coyd expressed enthusiasm about Domingos's potential impact, noting his impressive athleticism and eagerness to return to wheelchair rugby league after representing Portugal in basketball.
In addition to Domingos, the squad includes other notable additions such as Josh Edwards from Hull FC and Finlay O'Neill from Halifax Panthers, who also made significant contributions during recent trials at the University of York. The final selection of ten players for the tour will be determined by Coyd from the initial list of eight players selected in May, alongside the nine new call-ups. The new members, including Nathan Holmes and Wayne Boardman from Halifax, as well as players from London Roosters and Sheffield Eagles, are expected to enhance the competitiveness of the squad. This strategic selection aims to bolster England's performance as they prepare for a challenging series against Australia, a formidable opponent in wheelchair rugby league. The inclusion of uncapped players reflects Coyd's commitment to developing a strong and dynamic team for the international stage.
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