Stephen Jones, Head Coach and Chairman of North Wales Wheelchair Rugby League & Disability Sports Club, is celebrated in one of seven verses that together form a powerful tribute crafted by world-renowned Scottish contemporary artist and poet Robert Montgomery. Each verse, honouring a different ‘Game Changer’, has been unveiled at a significant sporting location across the UK.
Jones’s verse, recognising his groundbreaking efforts to make wheelchair rugby league more accessible, was revealed at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. This iconic venue is a fitting location, given its own remarkable National Lottery legacy. Built with a record-breaking £46.3 million National Lottery grant – the largest single grant ever awarded to a Welsh project – the Principality Stadium has become a symbol of Welsh sporting pride and has hosted major rugby league events, including the opening ceremonies of both the 2000 and 2013 Rugby League World Cups.
Other verses of Montgomery’s poem have been unveiled at landmark venues such as Wembley Stadium, creating a nationwide tapestry of sporting achievement. Each stanza celebrates an individual who has made an extraordinary impact on grassroots and elite sport alike, all powered by the £30 million raised weekly by National Lottery players for good causes.
The unveiling of the complete poem across these venues was brought to life through a stirring recital by Clare Balding, one of Britain’s most beloved sports broadcasters (Click here to listen to Clare Balding’s recital) .
Balding’s involvement not only celebrates these Game Changers but also spotlights the thousands of sporting projects nationwide that have flourished with National Lottery support, distributed through organisations like UK Sport, Sport England, Sport Northern Ireland, sportscotland, and Sport Wales.
Jones’s journey from player to community leader is truly inspiring. Since founding his club in April 2013, he has transformed wheelchair rugby league in North Wales, making it accessible to people of all abilities. Under his guidance, the club has nurtured 16 international players and become a vital community hub, even expanding during the challenges of the pandemic.
National Lottery funding has been crucial to this success, providing essential equipment like sports wheelchairs. The club now boasts three teams competing in various leagues – a UK first – and has seen remarkable membership growth.
One touching example of the club’s impact is the story of Ted, who joined at 13. Initially terrified of using a wheelchair due to his cerebral palsy, Ted has since blossomed into a Welsh international player – a testament to Jones’s passionate belief in the power of disability sports.
“Sport is about so much more than winning a gold medal, it’s about the impact it has on our lives. That’s why I’m honoured to be a part of championing these seven outstanding people who have truly changed the game in their sports and communities. Sport unites people across borders, bridges divides, and ignites the human spirit, reminding us that through perseverance, teamwork, and passion, we can achieve greatness beyond the limits we once believed impossible.
“The Game Changers exemplify the transformative power of sport – and the role The National Lottery has played in making their achievements possible has been vital. The Principality Stadium in Wales has played host to some of the greatest sporting achievements we have seen over the last 30 years and is therefore a natural home for part of the poem to be displayed.”
“I fell in love with wheelchair rugby league purely because it’s so diverse. Anyone can play. It’s totally inclusive at the moment. We’ve got an 11-year-old and a 70-year-old. We’ve got a trans player, we’ve got amputees, we’ve got people like my son, who has epilepsy. I’m so passionate that we need sports for disabled people and with the help of National Lottery funding we’ve been able to move the dial on that significantly.”
“The National Lottery’s 30th Birthday is a significant milestone, and an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved over the past three decades. At Sport Wales we want to see a healthier and more active nation and would like every young person to have a great start in life so they can go on to enjoy a lifetime in sport. National Lottery funding has had a game changing impact on sport in Wales, helping us to create Olympic, Paralympic and world champions across many different disciplines.
“Each year, The National Lottery invests millions of pounds into Welsh sport at a strategic and grassroots level. This includes investing in community clubs and supporting elite athletes to achieve their dreams. National Lottery money is also behind some iconic Welsh sporting venues, including the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, the National Pool in Swansea and the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport.
“Stephen Jones is an inspirational game changer within rugby league in Wales and we congratulate him on this honour. Stephen and the rest of the Game Changers epitomise the power of sport and we are proud to honour their remarkable achievements, so beautifully reflected in Robert Montgomery’s poem.”
To mark the 30th anniversary of the first draw in 1994, The National Lottery is celebrating 30 inspirational people – Game Changers – who have achieved amazing things across the UK in the last 30 years, with the help of National Lottery funding.
The Game Changers were nominated by members of the public and selected by a panel composed of members of The National Lottery family and partners.
28 Game Changers are being revealed between September and October 2024 at various installations throughout the UK which focus on an area of National Lottery funding including, the arts & film, heritage, sport and community.
The final two Game Changers will be announced on The National Lottery’s New Year’s Eve Big Bash scheduled for broadcast on ITV on 31 December.
The seven sport Game Changers announced today were selected as examples of dedicated, inspiring, high achieving individuals who have had a transformative impact on their sport, and a transformative impact on their wider communities and society.
For 30 years, money raised by National Lottery players has helped create extraordinary sporting moments that have inspired the nation and helped to transform lives and communities through physical activity and the power of sport.
Since 1994, more than £356 million has been awarded to support elite and grassroots sport projects in Wales.
