British Wheelchair Basketball has started searching for new high-performance hubs across the UK ©Getty Images

British Wheelchair Basketball (BWB) has started its search for new high-performance partnerships, aiming to create hubs for the sport in universities across the United Kingdom.

It is inviting universities to formally submit an expression of interest in working together to grow wheelchair basketball.

There are set to be four of these partnerships available for universities, acting as "centres of excellence" for wheelchair basketball across the UK.

The development of world-class athletes, coaches and general workforce will be their chief focus.

There is a hope that this approach will also support dual careers and can develop leagues and competitions.

This scheme is an important part of BWB's strategy for 2019 to 2024, which also focuses on the creation of a Women's Premier League, which could potentially be the first professional women's wheelchair basketball league in the world.

Wheelchair basketball was recently added to the British Universities and Colleges Sport programme ©Getty Images
Wheelchair basketball was recently added to the British Universities and Colleges Sport programme ©Getty Images

BWB will also work with the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) and community clubs.

This announcement comes weeks after the sport was formally added to the BUCS competition programme for the 2020-2021 season, meaning university wheelchair basketball teams will have a formal league to play in.

Universities must submit expressions of interests to BWB by October 2.

A partner briefing is to be held on September 24, with more information on expressing an interest available here.