"Super proud to represent Scotland at Wheelchair Rugby World Cup"

Pete Lauder, who represented the RAF Benevolent Fund at this summer's Veteran Games, has been called up to the Scotland Wheelchair Rugby World Cup Squad. 

Pete, who lives in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, served in the RAF for a number of years, before transitioning out through a medical retirement and going on to work for the NHS. 

In the Veteran Games, which took place from May 29 to June 3 in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, he represented the RAF Benevolent Fund while competing in cross fit and swimming.

Pete, who was a Sergeant when he retired in 2020, set up the adaptive sports club at RAF Wyton, in Cambridgeshire and, for several years, ran this alongside the work he did in the RAF. 

Reacting to his call-up to the Scotland squad, he said: "At first, I was in shock, but then I felt elation and excitement. It is amazing, I feel super proud to represent Scotland.
"I'm looking forward to experiencing such an event as an athlete rather than a supporter and the buzz of competing, being with the rest of the squad and the excitement around our first game."

Speaking about the boost he got from the Veteran Games, he said: "I think it is the positivity and realising I can do things. Prior to veteran games I was doubting my abilities and the games helped combat this, allowing me to be more positive and push for selection to the World Cup squad."

He added: "Preparations are going really well. I'm doing my own personal training in the wheelchair at the gym once/twice a week, involving sprints, shuttles, ball handling skills and stamina. I'm lucky that a PT at our gym is helping, along with the use of the local leisure centre." 

Scotland Wheelchair will take on Australia on October 31.