LAURENCE CELEBRATES INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM SUCCESS WITH TIGERS
Foundation beneficiary Laurence Ball has enjoyed a trophy-laden couple of weeks with the Leicester Tigers Wheelchair Rugby Team.
First, Tigers made a return trip to Poland to win an invitational European event for the second time after also picking up the trophy in 2022 and then the team swept the board at the new WR5s National Cup at Stoke Mandeville.
In a squad coached by Paralympic gold medallist and fellow Matt Hampson Foundation beneficiary Jamie Stead, Laurence was awarded Most Valuable Player by colleagues after two days of competition in the International Polish Cup and then achieved the landmark of his 50th cap for Tigers a week later.
Laurence, who fits his sporting commitments around a young family and work in the construction industry, said: “I can’t believe I’ve got to 50 games already. It was only when I was looking at some photos recently that I saw when Matt’s Foundation helped me to get my chair in March last year and the time has flown by.
“I was very surprised by the MVP award in Poland but I had a lot of game-time there and that gave me a chance to show what I can do and also what I’ve learned from Jamie and Tom [Folwell, club captain] recently.
“It’s certainly been a busy few weeks but the team is going from strength to strength and the sport is growing incredibly quickly. There’s good depth in the squad and I just love playing – it’s like a bug!
“Leicester Tigers have given me that playing time, they’ve kept pushing me and I’ve learned a lot. I really appreciate that support.”
Five teams slugged it out in Poland, with Tigers beating Four Kings, Diably and IKS Lavoro before a 25-24 victory in overtime against Polish outfit IKS Jeźdźcy in the final.
A week later, at the new WR5s National Cup, the Tigers added another title. They began with a 50-31 win over local rivals Northampton Saints and a 56-30 defeat of Solent to top the standings in the group stages on Saturday then followed up with a 50-34 win over North-East Barbarians in the semi-finals to set up a meeting with Penrith Pumas on Sunday for the title. There, the team maintained their impressive scoring form to win 56-33 and add the new GB Wheelchair Rugby event crown to the WR5s Premiership honours won in the summer.
