In a first for the North East, Oxclose Community School hosted a day of wheelchair rugby for local secondary school pupils.

Players from the Newcastle Bulls Wheelchair Rugby team and experts from Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby and the Rugby Football Union came along to scout for talent and to demonstrate how the game works.

About 30 pupils from Oxclose Community school, Sandhill View School, Usworth Sixth Form College and Castletown Primary School took part in the game, which is played with two teams of four players.

It proved to be a good day for Lewis Male, 16, who said: "It's been fantastic. I already play wheelchair basketball with the Newcastle Sharks and now I've been invited to start training with the Newcastle Bulls."

James Price, GB wheelchair development director, was on hand to coach and encourage.

He said: "The sport is growing so quickly because it's so much fun.

"We're trying to raise awareness of wheelchair rugby because it's an inclusive sport and a good chance for these young people to get involved and knock each other about.

"We demonstrate in mainstream schools because it's such a great way of breaking down barriers. Just by having fun in a disabled sport gives people an appreciation of what it's like to be in a wheelchair."

Sandra Curry, disability sport co-ordinator at Oxclose School, said: "It's been about team building, confidence building and citizenship.

"That's what Oxclose is all about."

To find out more about wheelchair rugby, visit: www.gbwr.co.uk