Wales will host its first ever international wheelchair rugby league tournament when the Celtic Cup gets underway this weekend at Deeside Leisure Centre.

The Welsh squad includes six players from the North Wales Crusaders line-up, with John Doyle, Stephen Halsey, Harry Jones, Lucie Roberts, Gary Taylor and Stuart Williams all set to face-off against Scotland and Ireland.

The event was set up to give the three Celtic nations some much needed international competition outside the Four Nations and World Cup tournaments.

Cup winners in both 2016 and 2017, Wales, were first invited to play in the Celtic Cup two years ago, after Ireland won the initial two-nation tournament against Scotland in 2015.

Wales Wheelchair Rugby League team manager Mark Andrew Jones is looking forward to the event.

He said: “This is the first time that Wales Rugby League have hosted an international wheelchair rugby league tournament and hopefully it won’t be the last. The 2021 Rugby League World Cup is only three years away and it would be great to host some of the World Cup games in Wales to highlight the game to our sports-mad public.

“We are immensely proud and excited to host the tournament at the Deeside Leisure Centre. We have worked hard to make it a very special occasion for the players and have been supported by some very generous sponsors, particularly Pradhu Ventures Ltd who is the main sponsor for the event, but we have also been supported by crowdfunding donations and a very generous bid for the match ball from Peter and Martyn Beasley.

We have also received some heritage shirts from past Wales Rugby League players and would like to thank them for their generosity.

“Wheelchair Rugby League is a game that I believe the people of Wales would love if it got more exposure. Hopefully those who come to the Celtic Cup will tell their friends and family, encourage others to come and try it and also spread the word about what a great game they have seen.

“The Cup will feature some of the best Wheelchair rugby league players in the UK. They are quick skilful and fearless. We will see some exciting moves and some great tries, all played with great team spirit and respect for the players from our visiting countries.

“It’s free entry and I hope that people will come along and support the players of all three teams as it’s going to be a great event.”