Rob Hawkins (wheelchair rugby league)
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| Full name | Robert Hawkins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 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
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
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
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
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
Halifax
- Super League (and predecessor tournaments):
England
Individual
- IRL Wheelchair Golden Boot
- Wheels of Steel:
- Winners (1) 2022
- Young Player of the Year:
- Winners (1) 2019, 2024
References
- ^ a b "CHFT Website". www.cht.nhs.uk. 21 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d https://www.intrl.sport/article/355/hawkins-wins-wheelchair-2024-irl-golden-boot-
- ^ a b c https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cq8qkpp8zyeo
- ^ 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.