James Simpson MBE has been appointed as Skills Coach to the Scotland Wheelchair Rugby League squad for the 2025 season.

Simpson who is the Head Coach of the Super League reigning champions Leeds Rhinos brings a wealth of experience to the squad and Head Coach Martyn Gill had this to say:

“I’m delighted to welcome James to the coaching group for 2025. He has lived experience of playing and coaching at a high level and that can only be a positive for the group. He’s dedicated to his craft and I genuinely think he will bring a voice, perspectives and experiences that will move us forward”.

James who won the World Cup in 2022 as a player with England has been flying the flag for Wheelchair Rugby League as a sport for over a decade and in 2023 saw him awarded an MBE for his services.

He has been around a performance environment for a long time and that shows in his coaching where he has won the Super League twice, the League Leaders shield 5 times and 3 Challenge Cups. This was further cemented this year in obtaining his Level. 3 in coaching, the first wheelchair player transitioning to coach to do so.

James commented: “I’m looking forward to teaming up with Martyn and the wider Scotland group for 2025. It will be a different dynamic for us given he was my Coach whilst I was a player with both Leeds and England but we have a similar ethos and will be looking to get the best out of the playing group and helping them fulfil their potential”.

Scotland return for their second camp under new Head Coach Martyn Gill on the 11th January where preparations continue as they build to the Celtic cup in May 2025 which will be held in Cardiff.