Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) team will make their return to action on Sunday 25th April when they face local rivals Wakefield Trinity in the opening round of the 2021 PDRL League.
It will mark the side’s first taste of competitive action in almost 18 months, after the entire 2020 campaign was lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a big blow to the sport, which had been steadily gathering momentum after the huge success of the first ever PDRL Finals Day, which Leeds Rhinos Foundation hosted at Selby RUFC in September 2019.
But with teams finally cleared to return to training and play matches, the upcoming PDRL League season promises to be even bigger and better as things build up towards a historic first PDRL World Cup which will run alongside the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair competitions during The Rugby League World Cup 2021.
This year sees each of the six competing teams in the PDRL League face each other on a home-and-away basis, with fixtures consisting of a single full match played for 50 minutes in a 9-a-side format, a change from the shorter ‘festival’ style events previously used.
It all kicks off next weekend, with the Rhinos handed an opening day derby against a Wakefield Trinity side who secured a dramatic 22-16 win when the sides last met in the 2019 semi finals.
They will then go on the road to play Castleford Tigers on the weekend of 15/16 May, before making another short journey to take on Wakefield in the return leg a week later.
Warrington Wolves, who were crowned PDRL champions after winning the 2019 Grand Final against Wakefield, will also launch their title defence next weekend when they travel to face a Wigan Warriors outfit who will be keen to build on an encouraging debut season in the PDRL League.
The opening PDRL League fixtures will all be played behind-closed-doors, with score updates and team news available via the PDRL England and each Foundation’s own Twitter accounts.
The full fixture list for the 2021 PDRL League season, the venue for the PDRL Grand Final, and details of further Exhibition matches, will be published shortly.
For more information about Physical Disability Rugby League please click HERE.
Back the PDRL team in 2021
There are a number of sponsorship opportunities available for you and your company to support Leeds Rhinos PDRL and help grow this inclusive sport which provides opportunities for more people to play rugby league in Leeds.
Please contact gareth.cook@leedsrhinosfoundation.org to find out the opportunities available to you.
If you are interested in playing Physical Disability Rugby League with Leeds Rhinos Foundation, please email ben.berry@leedsrhinosfoundation.org for more information.