BY ROSS HEPPENSTALL
NOT MANY athletes get to represent their country in four different sports.
Freya Levy, though, will achieve that remarkable feat today when she makes her debut for the England wheelchair rugby league team.
Tom Coyd’s side face defending world champions France in a two-match Test series, with games on Wednesday and Saturday at Medway Park in Gillingham, Kent.
There are some great stories within Coyd’s squad and Essex girl Levy is the latest one.
A county-level football and rugby union player prior to being diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, the 25-year-old has since gone on to represent Great Britain at both wheelchair basketball, para ice hockey and wheelchair sevens rugby union.
Since 2018, Levy has been playing wheelchair rugby league too, and on Wednesday night the Argonauts player will become a fully-fledged international in that sport too.
Levy is also the only female in the squad and is relishing the prospect of making her England bow with the rescheduled Rugby League World Cup just 12 months away.
She said: “I’m incredibly excited and it’s going to be a big test, but I just can’t wait to get out there alongside these great lads.
“It’s a perfect opportunity and we’ve got another 12 months to prepare to train harder and smarter and bring that trophy home next year.
“Playing wheelchair rugby league with the men is a nice balance. With basketball and ice hockey, I’m playing with females only.
“But I grew up with two brothers, so I’m used to playing with lads!
“They’re big and strong, but that doesn’t mean that the females can’t be big and strong too – there isn’t too much of a difference.
“Para ice hockey is incredibly physical, like wheelchair rugby league, and hopefully my story can encourage more females to get involved.
“My schedule is very busy, but with basketball and rugby league the training can kind of cross over in terms of chair skills and fitness levels.”
Coyd, England’s head coach, describes wheelchair rugby league as “a clashing, brutal, violent game played at speed, which is terrifying to watch if you haven’t experienced it before.”
Appointed head coach last year after previously serving as assistant since 2017 under previous head coach Mark Roughsedge, Coyd says of Levy: “The first thing to say about Freya is that she’s clearly multi-talented, so she has picked up wheelchair rugby league incredibly quickly.
“Her chair skills are fantastic – some of the best in the squad – and it’s just been a case of giving her time to understand the game.
“To be honest, she came in and I think her first session was in October but up until then, all her rugby league experience was from playing for the Argonauts.
“Credit to them for that and to Joe Coyd, Fred Nye and Lewis King, Freya’s Argonauts team-mates, for helping her.
“She’s been at home as soon as she joined the squad.
“I think more players like Freya will take up wheelchair rugby league from other sports, especially with more teams like Sheffield springing up.
“Plus with the exposure we’re getting on terrestrial television and players being paid the same as the men and women’s teams.
“It’s going to put wheelchair rugby league on a pedestal and attract players with transferrable skills.”
England wheelchair team captain and Leeds Rhinos player Tom Halliwell has enjoyed getting to know Levy during their time together in camp.
He said: “Freya is an unbelievable athlete and has raised the bar for every single player and member of staff.
“She’s earned the right to be here and deserves to make her debut against the world champions and number-one ranked side in the world.”
Wheelchair rugby league can be an amazing spectacle and Levy believes its inclusivity is perhaps the sport’s greatest appeal.
She explained: “Not only able-bodied and disabled people can play it, but also male and female, so it’s incredible to be a part of that.
“It was back in 2018 when I first started playing it and a family friend had a match and they needed extra players.
“They knew I played basketball and could compete in a chair, so they asked me to come down and I gave it a go.
“I really fell in love with it and it’s kicked on from there.
“The tactics were probably the hardest thing I had to learn, but I found that quite simple to slot into.
“At this level, it becomes more challenging but it’s a challenge I’m up for.
“We’ve had a really successful season with the Argonauts and we’re really happy with our results and getting to the Challenge Cup final.
“The opportunities next year will be a lot greater compared to this year because we will have more field time and more matches.
“I have got a few team-mates in the England squad, so it’s about building off the opportunities in terms of the training and sports science, which should really help us next year.
“It would be incredible to win on Wednesday and the camp is buzzing to get that victory.
“It would definitely be an important step in our process heading into the World Cup next year.”
Levy also works in conjunction with the foundation set up by iconic Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson to open up opportunities for everyone in her area to have access to sport.
She adds: “I’m very fortunate to be supported by Michael Johnson and his young leaders programme.
“I get to contact MJ personally. He’s an incredible man and a very kind soul, so it’s great to have him on my team.
“It’s about finding leadership opportunities which are relevant to my community.
“For me, that’s ensuring that everyone has access to sport whereas for someone else, for example, it could be about ensuring gender equality in sport.
“It’s different for everyone in their communities and for me it’s about inclusivity and ensuring everyone finds an activity for them.”
