A wheelchair rugby player has secured sponsorship as he bids to make the England squad for next year’s World Cup.

Lewis King, who turns out for Dartford-based side The Argonauts, received a donation of £500 from the housebuilder from Bellway London Partnerships, whose divisional offices are on Crossways Business Park, just three miles from where The Argonauts play, at Fairfield.

The money will go towards purchasing a new set of wheels for Lewis’ chair ahead of the tournament, which is being held alongside the main Rugby League World Cup in England from November 11 to 26.

Lewis, 35, has been using a wheelchair since 2009, when a blood clot in his spinal cord left him unable to walk unaided. He began playing wheelchair rugby in 2016 and was selected to play for the national team just two years later.

He is one of 20 players in the England Performance Unit, and after a promising start to his international career, including being named player of the year in 2019, is hoping to make the 10-person squad for the World Cup.

Lewis said: “This will be my first World Cup so I am very excited, especially as the tournament will be televised on BBC, similar to the able-bodied men’s and women’s competitions.

“I have been trying to apply for sponsorships for a while but it’s quite difficult. Bellway is the first company to sponsor me, and their support is hugely important for me.

“Usually a set of wheels will last about a season because they get damaged due to the impacts of the tackles. Being able to buy new wheels will help me massively in my preparation over the next year ahead of selection.

“As soon as new wheels are put on, you can feel the difference straight away. Having them in the best condition will make me faster and more agile, and that will reflect on the court when I play.”

Bellway agreed to sponsor Lewis after being approached by his father, Paul King, a contractor who has worked on several building projects for the housebuilder over the past 30 years, including the new divisional offices in Dartford.

Paul said: “I was working in the Bellway offices when I got talking to Neil McQuire, their technical director. I mentioned how Lewis was looking for sponsorship and Neil helped me find out where we needed to put in a request. After Lewis sent off the email, we had a response within a few days which was brilliant.

“This funding is very important to Lewis. Since using a wheelchair he has had the support of those who are close to him, but for a company like Bellway to help out with a £500 donation means a lot.”

Bill Kenneally, regional director for Bellway London Partnerships, said: “We are more than happy to support Lewis and we hope that the money helps him secure a place in the squad for next year’s World Cup.

“We understand that it can be hard for athletes in underfunded sports such as wheelchair rugby to gain sponsorship. Lewis is an inspirational young sportsman and he is more than deserving of this support.”

Bellway’s newest division, London Partnerships was established to deliver high-quality affordable homes in partnership with local authorities and housing associations across the capital. The division is currently building new homes in Barking Riverside and Crayford.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford

For more information on Bellway London Partnerships, see bellwayplc.co.uk/London-partnerships.