Halifax and the development of Wheelchair Rugby League
Halifax was at the centre of the birth of Wheelchair Rugby League in the United Kingdom. In 2025, the Halifax Panthers Wheelchair Rugby League Club is an integral part of the Halifax Panthers Rugby League family.
Pivotal to this birth and the growth of wheelchair Rugby League is Malcolm Kielty M.B.E. His father, Stan, was a Halifax Rugby League Great in the 1950.
Malcolm, who had contracted polio as a baby, recalled
“I’d be mid 40’s when I was persuaded to have a go at wheelchair basketball. To my shame, I asked why should I want to get in a sports wheelchair as a ‘walker‘”.
He continued
“it took a while for me to give it a go, but once the mental barrier was lowered …wow, liberation of movement!!!! No turning back”
Malcolm also played wheelchair tennis and soon wheelchair Rugby League was about to emerge.
In 2005, Malcolm, who was then coaching a wheelchair basketball team in Halifax, The Cardinals, received a “call” from Robert Fassolette about wheelchair Rugby League. Robert sent the rules, in French, by email which Malcolm’s wife, Pat, translated. Malcolm realised it could work and at the next Cardinals’ training session he introduced the new sport.
There were no referees, no coaches. So, Malcolm had to use his “running game” knowledge to coach the team and referee games.
The Halifax Cardinals were due to play Wigan in their next basketball fixture. When Malcolm explained the sport of wheelchair Rugby League to them, they immediately agreed to try it out. The news spread amongst the wheelchair basketball game and some former Rugby League players who had life changing injuries came to get involved.
Malcolm arranged for a French youth club side who were touring the UK to promote wheelchair Rugby League to come and play The Halifax Cardinals at Basketball, Tennis and Rugby League.
Rugby Football League officials, Nigel Wood and Neil Wood were invited to watch this “demonstration” game of wheelchair Rugby League game at the Whitcliffe Mount Sports Centre .
A reception was held for the French after the game and it was agreed the Halifax side (with Wigan) would “tour” the Catalan region to play three games as a Great Britain rep side. Malcolm accessed a European “Education” grant which paid for the wheelchair accessible coach, the RFL provided the shirts, and the Cardinals wheelchair sports club funded the track suits and polo shirts to make this a special occasion. In 2006, three games were played against clubs in the Rugby League heartlands of France.
The team that returned from France and were received by the Halifax mayor. It took forever to get the ‘ wheelies’ up in the one chair space in the lift of our town hall.
Back row: Martin Slingsby, Jack Brown, Andy Atkinson, The Mayor, Gary Atkinson,
Front row: Stewart Walker, Andy Wharton, Harry Brown, Wayne Boardman and Malcolm Keilty
After Martin Flynn, RFL regional development officer organised an open day in Bradford there were three domestic teams, Halifax, Wigan and Bradford. Wheelchair Rugby League was on its way!
The domestic game continued to progress with Martin Flynn at the RFL and Malcolm running the game.
Halifax had their first competition at Wigan alongside the Bradford Bulls and Wigan. Halifax won. The team that day was Paul Binks, Martin Slingsby, Harry Brown, Andy Wharton and Malcolm Keilty.
There has been considerable development work in schools in Halifax and it remains a big part of work in the local community.
Andy Atkinson has done an enormous amount of work delivering sessions into schools not only in Calderdale but the wider areas of West Yorkshire.
The Calderdale Community Coaching Trust and Chris Mitchell continue to deliver wheelchair Rugby League sessions in schools.