Wasps Rugby stars Bradley Davies and Alapati Leiua helped wounded warriors prepare for the Invictus Games presented by Jaguar Land Rover on September 10 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

• New Wasps signings Bradley Davies and Alapati Leiua share their professional rugby experience with the British Armed Forces team ahead of them competing in the wheelchair rugby discipline at the Invictus Games
• Visit to training session part of an innovative partnership between Wasps and the Invictus Games, with Wasps wearing a limited edition shirt for the London Double Header
• The Invictus Games, championed by Prince Harry and presented by Jaguar Land Rover, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women taking place in London from 10-14 September 2014

WHITLEY, 5-9-2014 — /EuropaWire/ — Rugby stars Bradley Davies and Alapati Leiua helped wounded warriors prepare for the Invictus Games, by sharing their experiences as international rugby players.

The Wasps new signings spoke to members of the British Armed Forces team, as part of an innovative partnership between the Premiership club and the new international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick Service personnel.

Wales lock Davies and Samoan back Leiua joined in with a wheelchair rugby training session organised by Help for Heroes at the Thornbury Leisure Centre near Bristol. The two Premiership stars met the British team who will go for gold when the Invictus Games, presented by Jaguar Land Rover, begins at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 10th September.

Bradley Davies, capped 42 times by Wales said: “Before today I thought this sport looked easy. It’s an eye opener for me to sit in that chair and get smashed from every angle. I’ve got a new added respect for these guys.”

Samoan international Alapati Leiua added: “It’s great to learn some skills from a different sport and I feel honoured and privileged to meet these wheelchair rugby players. The game takes a lot of upper body strength and it was good fun to try it out.”

Carolyne Dufley, a Corporal with the Royal Logistics Core who suffered a severe spinal cord injury during an international Judo match in the USA and will compete for the British Armed Forces in wheelchair rugby and powerlifting at the Invictus Games, said:  “I’m a huge rugby union fan so it’s been really nice to meet the guys and teach them a bit about the sport. The two games have very close similarities, such as the aggression and the technicalities of where you’ve got to place the ball.”

Wasps will wear a limited edition away shirt for their London Double Header clash with Saracens on Saturday 6th September, as part of their partnership with the Invictus Games. The club hopes the branding will raise awareness of the event which features nine sports and over 400 competitors from across the world.

Davies, whose brother is currently serving in the Armed Forces, added: “I think Wasps’ partnership with the Invictus Games is great. It’s something that will hopefully highlight the event to lots of people watching the London Double Header on TV.”

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “As supporters of Premiership Rugby and presenting partner of the Invictus Games, we are delighted that Wasps and their players have joined us in celebrating the Invictus Games and recognising the commitment and achievements of wounded, injured and sick Service personnel.

“The Invictus Games promises to be an inspirational event and it’s fantastic to see Wasps promoting it on their shirts at the London Double Header.”

The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence. It will see more than 400 wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women, from 14 nations, competing at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the Lee Valley Athletics Centre, thanks to the Mayor of London, the London Legacy Development Corporation and the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.

Tickets for the Invictus Games cost £12.85 per person, per session and are on sale at www.invictusgames.org

ENDS.

Video footage and interviews from the wheelchair rugby training session is available at:
http://www.broadcast.jaguarlandrover.com/sections/jaguarlandrover

For further information log onto www.media.jaguarlandrover.com or contact:

Paul Garbett, Jaguar Land Rover Invictus Games Communications:
paul.garbett@fasttrackagency.com,+44 (0)7718 340555

Jessica Rumboll, Land Rover UK PR:
jrumboll@landrover.com, +44 (0)7880177300

Kim Palmer, Land Rover UK PR Manager:
kpalmer@landrover.com, +44 (0)7795666169

Editor’s Note:

About Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest premium automotive manufacturing business, built around two iconic British car brands. All its vehicles are engineered and designed in Britain.  While it has ambitious plans for global growth, the heart of the business remains in the UK, with billions of pounds invested in state-of-the-art production, research and development facilities. In 2013, Jaguar Land Rover sold 425,006 vehicles – up 19% from the previous year – in more than 170 countries. The company employs 30,000 people globally.

Land Rover is the Official Vehicle of Rugby World Cup 2015 and Premiership Rugby

About the Invictus Games
Launched by Prince Harry earlier this year, the Invictus Games will use the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and generate a wider understanding and respect of those who serve their country. The nine adaptive sports to feature at the Invictus Games are: Archery, Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, Road Cycling, Powerlifting, Indoor Rowing, Wheelchair Rugby, Swimming, Sitting Volleyball and a Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge. Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will host events in the iconic London Aquatics Centre, Copper Box Arena, Lee Valley VeloPark and Here East, with athletics running at Lee Valley Athletics Centre. Teams have been invited from Afghanistan, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Georgia, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, the UK and USA.

The Invictus Games are being organised with the support and backing of The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry and the Ministry of Defence.

Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games. BT, Fisher House, Ottobock, PwC and YESSS Electrical are Official Supporters.

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Wasps Rugby stars Bradley Davies and Alapati Leiua helped wounded warriors prepare for the Invictus Games presented by Jaguar Land Rover on September 10 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park