Jonathan Coggan MBE[1] (born 25 April 1983)[1] is a British paralympic wheelchair rugby player.[2][3][4] He won a gold medal for the Great Britain national wheelchair rugby team at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in the mixed event.[5] Coggan was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours for services to wheelchair rugby.[6]

Jonathan Coggan
MBE
Brands Hatch Track Day
Date of birth (1983-04-25) 25 April 1983 (age 41)
Place of birthEssex, England[1]
Rugby union career
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Great Britain
Medal record
Representing  United Kingdom
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2020 Tokyo Mixed

Early life and education edit

Coggan was born in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, and attended the local William de Ferrers School. He continued his education studying Public Services at Southend College for Further Education.

Injury and Recovery edit

As a 16-year-old In April 2000 on the way to college, Coggan was involved in a car crash that left him with a broken neck. He was hospitalised for nearly twelve months at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, and as part of his rehabilitation was introduced to Wheelchair Rugby.

Wheelchair Rugby Career edit

Coggan started playing club rugby in 2001, and in 2002 was invited on a World Rugby Tour with the GB development squad. The tour took in San Diego, Sydney, Singapore and Cape Town. In 2003 he participated in the World Wheelchair Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, and then went on to gain his first full international cap playing in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Since then, Coggan has been a constant fixture in the GB squad and is a veteran of five Paralympic Games. Considered to be one of the best 0.5s in the game, he has won best in class at the 2006 World Championships and in the 2009 and 2011 European Championships. Now one of the squad’s most senior members, Coggan is a role model to many of his team mates both on and off the court continuing to be an integral part of the squad.


2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games: Gold

2016 Rio Paralympic Games – 5th

2012 London Paralympics – 5th

2008 Beijing Paralympic Games – 4th

2004 Athens Paralympic Games – 4th

2022 World Championships, Denmark - 5th

2018 World Championships, Australia - 4th

2014 World Championships, Denmark – 5th

2010 World Championships, Canada - 5th

2006 World Championships, New Zealand - 4th

2022 European Championships, France - 2nd

2019 European Championships, Denmark – 1st

2017 European Championships, Germany - 1st

2015 European Championships, Finland – 1st

2013 European Championships, Belgium – 3rd

2011 European Championships, Switzerland – 2nd

2009 European Championships, Denmark - 4th

2007 European Championships, Finland – 1st

2005 European Championships, Denmark – 1st

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Jonathan Coggan". Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  2. ^ "How medics saved sportsman Jonny - now set to represent Great Britain in wheelchair rugby at the Paralympics". Daily Gazette. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Jonathan Coggan talks about wheelchair rugby". Maldon Standard. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Coggan eyes Storm glory and Rio reign". The Daily Telegraph. 22 April 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Tokyo 2020 Medal Standings Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  6. ^ "New Year Honours 2022: Jason Kenny receives a knighthood and Laura Kenny made a dame". BBC Sport. 31 December 2021.