Wheelchair game developing in Norway after visit by technical educators

• In 2025, IRL launched the most expansive investment into grassroots game development in its history
• The technical education project objective is to ensure that every IRL member nation is able to produce its own coaches and match officials, through accredited local educators
• The IRL's system focuses heavily on continuing technical development (“CATO”: Consolidate-Apply-Team-Organise) between courses, to ensure that acquired knowledge turns into maturing understanding of the game, higher technical standards and an authentically developed sport
• The project is underpinned by state of the art e-learning management systems and coaching resources

Wheelchair Rugby League in Norway has made further progress towards establishing the wheelchair game in the country after a two-day visit by David Butler, IRL’s head of membership and competitions, and Betfred Wheelchair Super League team Sheffield Eagles head coach Greg Brown.

The activities took place in Farsund, hosted by the Farsund Bobcats club with delegates also attending from Lillehammer Huskies. Both clubs have sent representative to the UK on factfinding missions to help them establish their clubs and are looking to play their first formal games in 2026.

Mikal Ousdal who will be Farsund Bobcats head coach said: “It was a great weekend. I learned a lot and I had great fun too”.

Brown led a full day’s introduction to coaching on Saturday, March 21, providing an introduction to coaching, coaching techniques and sharing ideas on how to make sessions welcoming and fun for beginners in the game.

The following day saw Butler deliver a pilot of the IRL Wheelchair Match Official Level 1 course, which culminated in each of the delegates taking turn to take charge of small games and receive initial feedback on their performances.

“It was great to continue my learning about Wheelchair Rugby League after my trip to the UK” said Sandra Kanstad of Lillehammer Huskies. “I learned some new techniques for coaching and how to engage people who are unfamiliar with Wheelchair Rugby League to improve their familiarity.

"The Match Officials course helped to improve my understanding of the game and I enjoyed the challenge of actually refereeing which was both daunting and rewarding at the same time."

The activities were funded by Rugby League Norge which has funding for the development of Wheelchair Rugby League.

"I am very grateful to Greg and David for travelling to Norway to help us with our mission to establish Wheelchair Rugby League and we are looking forward to both Farsund and Lillehammer making progress towards playing the first club game here in Norway," added Anne Haigh, RLN President.