Rochdale Hornets wheelchair team ready for 2025 season opener

This weekend, Rochdale Hornets' wheelchair team get their 2025 league season underway with a trip to Warrington Wolves.

Round 1 of the Betfred Championship West sees the Hornets visit Birchwood Leisure on Saturday (2pm kick-off), to take on a Wolves side that finishing a place above them in the league table during the 2024 campaign. 

"We are all excited to get going," head coach Pete Hird said.

"We have a strong squad representing the Hornets this coming Saturday afternoon. I think a good, positive result is going to be achievable, and I hope it will be the catalyst for the rest of the season."

Saturday's trip to Warrington is the first of five successive away games for the Hornets, whose first home outing of the season isn't until Saturday 12 July at Kingsway Park High School. 

Although the league season is yet to begin, the Hornets wheelchair team have already had plenty of opportunities to represent the club during the early months of the year.

They faced Wigan Warriors in a pre-season friendly in mid-March and have also competed in two separate tournaments - the Manchester 4s and Challenge Trophy in York. 

Part of the RFL's wider 2025 disability inclusion season launch, the Manchester 4s tournament involved more than 300 participants at the National Basketball Performance Centre.

The Hornets then travelled to York and gave an excellent account of themselves, finishing third out of eight teams in the group stages.

Ahead of the 2025 season, new additions to their squad have come in the form of Scotland representatives Callum Young and Pete Lauder, amongst others, and head coach Hird is confident that their off-season signings can make a real difference. 

"The squad is looking stronger this season with the addition of a few new players," he added.

"I feel we have recruited well, and it showed with strong performances in the Manchester 4s tournament and Challenge Trophy games earlier this month. 

"We are looking at a few more players too who are interested in joining us, and how they could fit into our systems.

"Heading into Saturday, we are all really eager to get going this season after some positive changes and results during our pre-season preparations."