Northampton Saints wheelchair rugby player Kascie Higgins will be heading to Stockholm later this month after being invited to play for the Gothenburg Lions.
Called up by former international wheelchair rugby player Andreas Collin, Higgins has been given the chance to join the Swedish Division Two outfit on the 12th and 13th of January alongside a number of current and former internationals.
Saints player Higgins will experience playing abroad for the first time and look to improve his individual skill during his time in the Nordic region, and Collin is looking forward to welcoming the 18-year-old to Stockholm.
"It’s an honour for us to co-operate with an English club like Northampton in this way."
Andreas Collin, Former Swedish International Wheelchair Rugby player
“For the last four years, Swedish Wheelchair Rugby has been aiming to find new players and develop them through different types of camps.
“We established Division Two for new players and it’s a new start for the sport, as the focus is on developing those incoming players.
“The Gothenburg Lions side that Kascie will play for has several new players evolving in their ranks, but also experienced players who are able to teach the sport in a good way – so it’s a great mix.
“It’s an honour for us to co-operate with an English club like Northampton in this way; Gothenburg Lions have always had dreams of being able to collaborate with various clubs across Europe.”
Gothenburg Lions is Sweden’s oldest wheelchair rugby club, dating back to the early 1990s, and the side has been attending the Division Two camp for the last three years to develop their new players in the competition.
But Kascie is not the only one making the trip to Stockholm this weekend – Saints’ wheelchair rugby coach Jamie Higgins has also been invited to attend and will be supporting Gothenburg as an assistant coach.
"It's a great opportunity for Kascie to test himself against some top-class wheelchair rugby players on an international stage."
Jamie Higgins, Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby Coach
“I’m delighted that Kascie’s been recognised at this level,” Higgins commented.
“He’s worked tirelessly at his game and continues to excel in the sport. The trip will be a great opportunity for him to test himself against some top-class wheelchair rugby players and gain some experience of playing on an international stage.
“I’m also really excited to see what I can pick up from the other coaches – hopefully I can bring back some extra skills and utilise those within the wheelchair rugby team here at Northampton Saints.”
Northampton Saints wheelchair rugby team are always looking for new recruits; if you would like more information about wheelchair rugby, either email [email protected] or CLICK HERE.
For more information about Wheelchair Rugby within the UK, please visit www.gbwr.org.uk.
