Tom Halliwell

English wheelchair rugby league player

Tom Halliwell
OBE

Personal information

Full name| Thomas Edward Halliwell
Born| 1999-2000

Playing information

| Club

Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
–c. 2012-2013  | Oulton Invaders Juniors (Running)  |  |  |  |  |
c. 2012-2013–  | Leeds Rhinos |  |  |  |  |
| Total  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
Representative
Years  | Team  | Pld | T | G | FG | P
2015–  | England |  |  |  |  |

Medals

Wheelchair rugby league
Representing  England
World Cup
| 2017 France |
| 2021 England |

Tom Halliwell OBE 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

Halliwell (back row; second right) with the England national wheelchair rugby league team, celebrating their 2021 World Cup victory at Old Trafford in 2022

### Club

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

## Honours

[edit]

### Leeds

[edit]

* Super League (and predecessor tournaments):
* Champions (2): 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021
* Challenge Cup:
* Champions (3): 2019, 2021, 2022

### England

[edit]

* World Cup:
* Champions (1):  2021
* Runner-up (1):  2017

### Orders

[edit]

* Order of the British Empire:
* OBE: 2023 (services to wheelchair rugby league football)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ https://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org/rhinos-wheelchair-stars-named-in-kings-birthday-honours/
2. ^ https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/england-wheelchair-rugby-star-taking-inspiration-from-luke-gale-and-nathan-cleary
3. ^ https://www.leedsrhinosfoundation.org/staff/wheelchair/tom-halliwell/
4. ^ https://www.leedstrinity.ac.uk/news/archive/2023/rugby-league-wheelchair-world-cup-winner-delivers-inclusivity-session-to-students.php
5. ^ "Leeds Rhinos claim first-ever Grand Final title". Rugby-League.com. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
6. ^ "Leeds Rhinos win Wheelchair Super League Grand Final". 19 September 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
7. ^ a b https://www.rugby-league.com/article/35628/tom-halliwell-to-lead-england-wheelchair-against-wales
8. ^ https://www.rugby-league.com/article/32167/england-wheelchair-rl-announce-world-cup-squad
9. ^ https://www.ffr13.fr/des-guerriers-dexception/
10. ^ https://europeanrugbyleague.com/fixtures/1001
11. ^ https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/09/19/rugby-league-world-cup-2021-official-wheelchair-squads/
12. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/rugby-league/55510706/page/2
13. ^ https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62289/halliwell-excited-for-leeds-homecoming

*[Pld]: Played
*[T]: Tries
*[G]: Goals
*[FG]: Field goals
*[P]: Points