Wheelchair Rugby

HISTORY OF WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

Wheelchair Rugby is a team sport for athletes of any gender with an impairment. A unique sport created by athletes with disabilities. Athletes compete in teams of four to carry the ball across the opposing team’s try line. Contact between wheelchairs is permitted, and is an integral part of the sport as athletes use their chairs to block and hold opponents.

The sport is played with a round ball. Due to the unique nature of the sport and the athletes’ impairments, a round ball ensures that a game flows better due to the more predictable nature of the bounce. A round ball is also easier to throw and catch which is a major dynamic within the sport.

Wheelchair Rugby athletes compete in manual wheelchairs specifically designed for the sport. 

Low Point Wheelchair Rugby is a team sport for athletes of any gender with an impairment. The maximum classification points of any individual athlete must not exceed 1.5 and the total number of classification points on court at any one time must not exceed 3.5.

Low Point Wheelchair Rugby has been around almost as long as the Paralympic discipline.  Developed for athletes with a classification of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 (affectionately referred to as “low pointers”), this version of the sport allows athletes who normally compete in a defensive role the opportunity to handle the ball, work in an attacking role, and score tries against other low point teams. 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN

• Canada

POPULAR COUNTRIES

• Australia, Canada, United States

2017 WORLD GAMES CHAMPION (COUNTRY)

• N/A

EDITIONS PARTICIPATED IN THE WORLD GAMES

• 0