We are incredibly proud to have a Paralympic Gold Medallist on our Team

We love to celebrate a win, and offer our biggest congratulations to James Roberts, rugby hero and talented Architectural Technologist. An impressive combination and James is certainly an impressive individual – scoring 24 tries in this epic final made James the teams’ top scorer.

From an early age James has always been a keen sportsman competing in rugby and squash teams for many years. Shortly after completing his first year at Coventry University he contracted bacterial meningitis.  After three years in hospital, which saw the amputation of both of his legs, in 2010 James returned to Coventry University to complete his degree – gaining a First Class Honours Degree in Architectural Design Technology.

It was during his stay in hospital, that a nurse introduced him to the sport of Wheelchair Rugby. Upon returning to university Wheelchair Rugby became a big part of James’ life and it wasn’t long before has picked for the GB development squad.

James spent the next three years playing on both sides of the Atlantic, playing with Phoenix Heat in the US championship and London Wheelchair Rugby Club in the British & European leagues. It is this very team spirit to which James brings to his role at Corstorphine & Wright as Senior Architectural Technologist.

In his own words, James stated: “What I love about Architecture and Wheelchair rugby, is that I’m part of a team in both worlds, although my roles are very different in the two, there are similarities in both disciplines; I’m working with people to achieve something greater than any of us could achieve on our own.”

James was recently part of a team who completed a shell only development Marks & Spencer store in Maidstone, assisting on the project from planning through to completion which involved project information management and the coordination of sub consultants on the development. James is a testament to hard work, juggling the challenges of architecture and rugby, and always striving to be better in both.

James added: “Training for the Paralympics was intense both at home and then when we entered the training camps, but it was worth it to come back with the gold under our belts.”

Defeating the USA in the final gave GB its first gold in a team sport in the Games’ 61-year history and the first for a European nation in the sport.

The whole GB Wheelchair Rubgy team has been shortlisted for the National Lottery Paralympian of the Year and if you share in our admiration for James and his achievements, please do cast your vote for James and his winning rugby team mates here.