Its original name was ‘murderball’. It’s full contact, hard hitting and fast. Let’s face it, wheelchair rugby is not for wusses.

The name of the sport may have changed to something rather more placid but the passion of its hardy competitors remains fierce. This includes Essex’s own wheelchair rugby ace, Jonathan Coggan.

Jonny, 32, has been playing the no-holds barred sport for 15 years following a tragic road accident which turned his life upside down and left him with life-changing injuries. He was a front seat passenger in a car when a van veered across the road and smashed into it.

The incident led to an 11-month stay in a specialist spinal unit in Stoke Mandeville hospital. He was left with severe paralysis but was lucky to be alive.

While he was in rehab at the hospital Jonny, who was aged just 16 at the time, was visited by Bob O’Shea, a former captain of the GB wheelchair team who helped the then teenager keep a positive mental attitude.

During rehab Jonny was also introduced to a wide range of paralympic sports but focused his attention on wheelchair rugby, loving the fact it was a team sport which allowed physical contact.

Before the accident Jonny had been a keen football fan and loved playing in a local team. Jonny knew wheelchair rugby was the closest he could get to participating in a sport that would fulfill him.

After deciding to give it a go Jonny didn’t look back. He has now been a fixture on the Team GB squad since 2004 and was part of the London 2012 Paralympics team when the sport captivated the nation.

Since then the number of wheelchair rugby teams across the UK has doubled in number, thanks to continuing support from Sport England and the National Lottery.

Gazette:

   Jonny when he was named as a member of ParalympicsGB Wheelchair Rugby Team.                                                                            Photo by onEdition

The Paralympics made great strides in showing a different side to disability in general and this is something Jonny hopes can be garnered for next year’s Paralympic Games in Rio, Brazil.

Jonny, who still lives in his home town of South Woodham Ferrers and is now a full-time athlete, said: “There was a great atmosphere around the time of 2012 . I think the media helped too with a more positive portrayal of paralympians and the fact the matches were shown on TV really helped get so many new people interested in the sport.

“I hope if we qualify for Rio then we’ll get that support again from spectators. The former William De Ferrers pupil has managed to remain philosophical about the accident that changed his life and left him with only partial feeling in his hands and fingers and limited movement in his arms, but still enough to just move the wheels of his wheelchair.

“I remember just wanting to get active and to get doing something physical, and this appealed to me right away,” said Jonny.

“It’s really a combination of the physical and the mental side of sport and I think that’s why I like it so much.

“It hasn’t been an easy journey but, as I say to people nowwhen I visit them in rehab, you have to accept this is a path for you – a new path with a new beginning.

“Just because it’s not the path you expected to take doesn’t mean it’s not the right one or that it won’t be an adventure. It’s not a dead end road.”

Wheelchair rugby is one of the only games which allows men and women to compete on the same team.

Developed in Winnipeg, Canada in 1976, the sport was at first named Murderball. Since then it has developed over the years and is today played on a hardwood court by competitors in manual wheelchairs.

But that doesn’t mean it’s going to be tame. Jonny says the reputation that comes with wheelchair rugby is there for a reason: “Initially the game can be thought of as rough or even brutal and I can understand people’s initial perceptions of it being that way,” he said.

“But actually once you get into playing it you realise it’s incredible tactical. It’s all about the skill of how to play.

“The most important thing for me is not losing my head but staying calm and cool on court and that’s when you do you can make the best and often game-changing decisions during a match.”

Jonny added how he also enjoys the sport because of the friends it has brought into his life.

“There’s a great camaraderie amongst the players. We train so hard to be a team and we are good friends. We have travelled all over the world. Wheelchair rugby has brought a lot of positives into my life,” he said.

Jonny and Team GB are hoping to compete at Rio next year and will know if they’ve qualified after the European championships in September.

He will also be part of the BT World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge in London next month.

The event will be held at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park from October 12-16 and is being billed a the most thrilling Wheelchair Rugby tournament since the London 2012 Games.

It will see the GB squad – including Jonny – taking on the top teams from across the world including gold medallists Australia and silver medallists Canada over five days of intense battle on the court.

“We’d love to have spectators from Essex come and watch and support us,” said Jonny. “Come and see what wheelchair rugby is all about.

“I can promise them some thrilling matches!”

  • For tickets, visit www.wwrc15.com/copper-boxarena- london.html