Bates named GB men's wheelchair basketball coach

George Bates has been appointed head coach and player development coach of the Great Britain men's wheelchair basketball team.

Bates was a key part of the GB side that won the 2018 World Championships, their first global gold medal.

In 2020 he considered having his leg amputated to continue his international career after being told that his disability made him ineligible to play the sport.

Bates was injured playing football aged 11 and has complex regional pain syndrome, a condition which causes persistent severe pain.

The 31-year-old, who coached Team UK at the 2023 and 2025 Invictus Games and led Loughborough Lightning to three Women's Premier League titles, said being appointed GB coach felt "a bit like a full circle moment for me".

He said: "I truly believe we have the most talented squad in the world and I'm looking forward to harnessing that talent, working towards winning tournaments and developing the wider squad.

"Everybody knows what this team means to me, and I can't wait to get back to the court and get to work."