Speed. Strategy. Strength. And now, serious support.
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) has announced a major partnership that’s set to supercharge the women’s game. The Hartford, a leading U.S. insurance company and long-time champion of adaptive sports, has joined forces with GBWR as the Official Insurance Partner of the Women & Girls Talent Programme, and it’s a game-changer.
This isn’t just another sponsorship deal. It’s a bold investment in the future of women’s wheelchair rugby, aimed at breaking down barriers and championing disability sport. Building on The Hartford’s role as a ‘28 for 28’ partner, an initiative focused on propelling wheelchair rugby to the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, this new alliance is all about action, access, and opportunity.
“We are thrilled to welcome The Hartford as our Official Insurance Partner of the Women and Girls Talent Programme,” said Jason Brisbane, CEO of GBWR. “Following on from their support as a 28 for 28 partner is a testament to our collective commitment to getting more women into wheelchair rugby and will significantly enhance our efforts to develop female talent in wheelchair rugby.”
For more than 30 years, The Hartford has backed inclusive sport, and now they’re taking things to the next level. Their funding will help cover essential costs like coaching, travel, and customised equipment, critical support that often makes the difference between potential and performance.
“We are so proud to be the Official Insurance Partner of the GBWR Women and Girls Talent Programme,” said Carl Bach, CEO at The Hartford. “For more than three decades, The Hartford has witnessed the transformative power of sports in helping individuals lead active and productive lives.
"Our partnership with GBWR will ease the pathway for female athletes to participate in wheelchair rugby by removing barriers and covering essential costs such as coaching, travel, and customised equipment. By bringing greater awareness to wheelchair rugby, an exhilarating sport that combines speed, strategy, and teamwork, we hope to inspire others to join the movement and celebrate the achievements of athletes.”
And for players like Phoebe Gibbons, who has represented Great Britain on the international stage, the partnership hits close to home.
“The partnership with The Hartford will continue to allow wheelchair rugby to change the lives of disabled people and provide them with opportunities to develop both as players and as people. Supporting initiatives which encourage more women and girls to get involved is a really important step in promoting equality in the sport and helps to build female role models. Thank you so much to The Hartford for their commitment to such an important cause.”
The GBWR Women and Girls Talent Programme is designed to grow the game at every level—from grassroots discovery to elite performance. With support from The Hartford, expect to see more training camps, mentorship opportunities, and outreach projects that welcome women and girls into the exhilarating world of wheelchair rugby.
As GBWR pushes toward the LA 2028 Paralympic Games, partnerships like this are helping to build a future that’s not only fierce on the court, but inclusive off it.
To learn more about how you can get involved or support the sport, visit GBWR’s official website
Exciting news for women's wheelchair rugby!
@TheHartford has joined forces with GBWR to encourage more female athletes into the sport by becoming the Official Insurance Partner of the GBWR Women and Girls Talent Programme.
This incredible partnership is about much more than
