Jodie Boyd-Ward (born 10 October 1992) is a

wheelchair rugby league Wheelchair rugby league is a wheelchair-based version of rugby league football, one of two recognised disability versions of the sport. It was developed by French rugby league player, coach and official, Wally Salvan in 2004. Unlike other wheelch ...

footballer who has played for three different nations at three consecutive Wheelchair World Cups. Boyd-Ward represents

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

at the 2021 tournament. Boyd-Ward has previously represented

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

at the 2013 World Cup and

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in the 2017 World Cup. Boyd-Ward plays domestic rugby for Leeds Rhinos wheelchair rugby league team. Boyd-Ward was born in

Wolverhampton Wolverhampton () is a city, metropolitan borough and administrative centre in the West Midlands, England. The population size has increased by 5.7%, from around 249,500 in 2011 to 263,700 in 2021. People from the city are called "Wulfrunian ...

. She began to develop mobility issues as a youngster and was diagnosed with

arthritis Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...

. Initially she played

wheelchair basketball Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people with varying physical disabilities that disqualify them from playing a non-disabled sport. These include spina bifida, birth defects, cerebral palsy, paralysis due to accident, amputations (of ...

before giving rugby league a try through her local sports club in Wolverhampton, a sport that at first she hated. Encouraged by her grandfather, Boyd-Ward persevered with rugby and was approached by the Leeds Rhinos wheelchair team to move to Yorkshire Through her parents Boyd-Ward qualified to represent Ireland and was selected by

to play in the inaugural Wheelchair Four Nations in 2012. Following her performances in the Four Nations Boyd-Ward was a member of the Ireland team during the 2013 Wheelchair World Cup. The following year Boyd-Ward changed allegiance to play for England in the 2014 Four Nations tournament and went on to make 20 appearances between 2014 and 2019 including the 2017 World Cup. In 2021 Boyd-Ward was approached by

to play for the Wales national team. Qualified to represent the country through her grandfather, Boyd-Ward make her debut for Wales in 2021 against Ireland in the Celtic Cup. Boyd-Ward was selected for the Wales squad for the delayed

2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup The 2021 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will be held in England from 15 October to 19 November 2022. It was originally planned to be held in November 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in England. It will be the first occasion ...

played in November 2022 in England. At domestic level Boyd-Ward has played for Leeds Rhinos since 2013 and has won all the domestic titles and was part of the Leeds team that won the Treble (Challenge Cup, League Leaders and Super League Grand Final) in 2021 as the team went unbeaten. Boyd-Ward is the current captain of Leeds Rhinos.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyd-Ward, Jodie 1992 births Living people English female rugby league players Leeds Rhinos Women players Rugby league players from Wolverhampton Wheelchair rugby league players