Wheelchair rugby is a sport with national representation at the Paralympic games. The Australian Team is known as the 'Steelers'. Australia has competed at every Paralympics Games since the sport gained full Paralympic Medal status at the

2000 Summer Paralympics The 2000 Summer Paralympic Games or the XI Summer Paralympics were held in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, between 18 and 29 October. The Sydney Paralympics was last time that the Summer Paralympics which were organized by two different ...

. The Steelers also competed in the

1996 Summer Paralympics The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, were held from August 16 to 25. It was the first Paralympic Games, Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million. It was the first Paralympic Games ...

where wheelchair rugby was a demonstration sport. The 'Steelers' defeated Canada at the 2012 London Games to win its first gold medal. In 2014, it won its first World Championship by defeating Canada. In winning the world championship, the Steelers became the second nation in history to hold both the Paralympic and world championship titles concurrently. Wheelchair Rugby Australia (WRA) established in 2022 is responsible for the development and growth of the sport of wheelchair rugby in Australia. The sport is not included at the Special Olympics or the

Deaflympics The Deaflympics also known as Deaflympiad (previously called World Games for the Deaf, and International Games for the Deaf) are a periodic series of multi-sport events sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at which Deaf athlet ...

.Depauw, K. P., & Gavron, S. J. (2005). ''Disability sport.'' (p. 141) Lower Mitcham, South Australia: Human Kinetics Publishers.

The game

The sport is one of the few contact sports available for wheelchair sport athletes and was originally known as "Murderball". It was developed in Canada during the 1970s and made its way to Australia in 1981. The sport uses a volleyball for the ball and combines elements of basketball, soccer and ice hockey. The game is played on a basketball sized court.Depauw, K. P., & Gavron, S. J. (2005). ''Disability sport.'' (p. 152) Lower Mitcham, South Australia: Human Kinetics Publishers. Each team has four players on the court at any one time. It has drawn large crowds at events such as the Paralympics.

Athlete classifications

Wheelchair Rugby is open to athletes with quadriplegia. Athletes competing in wheelchair rugby are

classified Classified may refer to: General *Classified information, material that a government body deems to be sensitive *Classified advertising or "classifieds" Music *Classified (rapper) (born 1977), Canadian rapper *The Classified, a 1980s American roc ...

according to their ability. Players are classified using a points system starting at 0.5 for athletes with the least ability through to 3.5 for athletes with the most ability. A team can have four players on the court but must not exceed 8 classification points (the combined total of the player's individual classifications).

Paralympic Games

Performances 1996–2020

1996 File:1996 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: A Centennial Olympic Park bombing, bomb explodes at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, set off by a radical Anti-abortion violence, anti-abortionist; The center fuel tank explodes on TWA Flight 8 ...

– 6th *

2000 File:2000 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Protests against Bush v. Gore after the 2000 United States presidential election; Heads of state meet for the Millennium Summit; The International Space Station in its infant form as seen from ...

– ''Silver'' *

2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO). Events January * January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 6 ...

– 5th *

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

– ''Silver'' *

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

– ''Gold'' *

2016 File:2016 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Bombed-out buildings in Ankara following the 2016 Turkish coup d'état attempt; the impeachment trial of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff; Damaged houses during the 2016 Nagorno-Karabakh ...

– ''Gold'' *

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

– 4th

1996 Atlanta

Australia represented by:
Men – Brett Boylan (2.0), Garry Croker (1.0), Andrew Greenaway (1.5), Rodney Hamilton, David Jacka (0.5), Peter Lock (2.5), Steve Porter (2.5), Baden Whitehead (2.0) ; Coaches – Darryl Wingard (head coach)
. Wheelchair rugby was a demonstration sport at the 1996 Summer Paralympics.

George Hucks George Hucks (born 18 January 1968) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. Born in the South Australian town of Port Augusta, he took up wheelchair rugby in 1994 and began playing for the Australian Steelers in 1995. During a practice i ...

was a member of the Australian team. During a practice in Atlanta prior to the start of the games, Hucks broke his kneecap. Hucks, from South Australia, was the team's best player. This was a major loss for the team. Hucks was flown home and another player was flown into Australia to replace him. Australia did not win a single match in wheelchair rugby. They lost to New Zealand 23–39, to Great Britain 33–34, to Canada 24–39, to the USA 18–31 and to Sweden 25–29.
Wheelchair rugby at the 1996 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

2000 Sydney

Australia represented by: Men –

Bryce Alman Bryce Alman (born 19 January 1976 in North Dandenong, Victoria) is an Australian Paralympic wheelchair rugby player. He was part of the Australian Steelers at the 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing The 2008 Summer Olympics (), ...

(2.0), Brett Boylan (2.0), Cliff Clarke, Garry Croker (1.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5),

Nazim Erdem Nazim Erdem, (born 1 August 1970) is an Australian wheelchair rugby Paralympic gold and silver medalist. He has won two gold and two silver medals at five Paralympics from 2000 to 2016. Personal Nazim Erdem was born on 1 August 1970 in the ...

(0.5), Peter Harding,

(3.0), Tom Kennedy,

Craig Parsons Craig Parsons (born 18 June 1965) is a Paralympic table tennis and wheelchair rugby union player from Australia. He was born in Subiaco, Western Australia. He won a silver medal at the 2000 Sydney Games in the mixed wheelchair rugby event. ...

, Steve Porter (2.5), Patrick Ryan (2.5)
Coaches – Terry Vinyard (head coach), Glenn Stephens and Nicholas Bailey (Assistant Coaches) Officials – Kim Elwood (manager), David Bonavita, Wendy Poole
The team won the silver medal after losing to the World and Paralympic champions, United States by one point in the final.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2000 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

2004 Athens

Australia represented by:
Men –

(2.0), Ryley Batt (3.5),

Grant Boxall Grant Boxall (born 19 July 1976) is an Australian Paralympic wheelchair rugby player. Personal Boxall was born on 19 July 1976. He was injured in a surfing accident near the Western Australian town of Yallingup, Western Australia, Yallingup in ...

(2.5), Brett Boylan (2.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5),

(0.5),

(3.0), Kevin Kersnovske (2.0), Steve Porter (2.5), Patrick Ryan (2.5), Ryan Scott (0.5),

Scott Vitale Scott Vitale (born 6 July 1985) was a member of the Australian wheelchair rugby team which competed in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Paralympics. Scott Vitale was born to Jill and Phillip Vitale on 6 July 1985, in Queensland, Australia. He was invo ...

(2.0)
Coaches – Terry Vinyard (head coach), Glenn Stephens (assistant coach) Officials – Kim Ellwood (manager), Robert Doidge, Maria Spiller

Australia finished 5th in the tournament.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2004 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

2008 Beijing

Australia represented by:
Men –

(2.0), Ryley Batt (3.5),

(2.5),

Shane Brand Shane Brand (born 5 August 1973) is an Australian Paralympic wheelchair rugby player. He is quadriplegic due to a motor vehicle accident. He won a silver medal with the Australian Steelers at the 2008 Beijing Games The 2008 Summer Olympi ...

(1.5), Cameron Carr (2.0),

(0.5),

(3.0), Steve Porter (2.5), Ryan Scott (0.5), Greg Smith (2.0),

(2.0)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (head coach) Officials – Kim Ellwood (Section Manager), Rob Doidge, Noni Shelton, Angela Mansell Three of the team made their Paralympic debut and Steve Porter attended his fourth Games. The Steelers won the silver medal losing to the United States 53–44 in the final.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2008 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

2012 London

Australia represented by:
Men -

(0.5), Ryan Scott (0.5)(Co-captain),

Jason Lees Jason Lees, is a wheelchair rugby player from Victoria and was a member of the Australian Steelers that won the gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympics and competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Biography Lees life chan ...

(1.0), Cameron Carr (2.0)(Co-captain), Andrew Harrison (2.0), Greg Smith (2.0), Cody Meakin (2.0),

Josh Hose Joshua Anthony "Josh" Hose, (born 1 December 1986) is a wheelchair rugby player. He has won gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympics and competed at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Personal Joshua Anthony Hose was born on 1 Decembe ...

(3.0), Ben Newton (3.0), Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (head coach); Officials - Paul Kiteley (Section Manager), Chevvy Cooper (Mechanic), Angela Mansell (Personal Care Assistant), Simon Mole (physiotherapist)
Six players made their first Paralympic Games appearance: Australia defeated Canada 66-51 to win their first Paralympics gold medal.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2012 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

2016 Rio

Australia represented by:
Men – Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5), Cameron Carr (2.0),

Andrew Edmondson Andrew John Edmondson (born 24 June 1990) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics as a member of the Australian Steelers. He has been selected for 2020 Summer Paralympics, his second Games. P ...

(2.0) (d),

(0.5),

Ben Fawcett Benjamin John Fawcett (born 31 December 1990) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player and member of the national wheelchair rugby team. He won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. ...

(0.5) (d), Andrew Harrison (2.0),

(3.0),

(1.0), Matt Lewis (3.5) (d), Ryan Scott (0.5) (captain), Jayden Warn (3.0)(d)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (head coach); Greg Smith (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Officials - Sam Allan (Team Leader), Nick Sanders (performance analyst), William Roberts (Mechanic), Darren Pickering (Personal Care/Nurse), Scott Curtis (physiotherapist)

Australia defeated the United States 59-58 in double over time in the gold medal match.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2016 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

2020 Tokyo

Australia represented by:
Men - * Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5),

(0.5), Andrew Harrison (2.0),

Jake Howe Jake (The Snake) Howe (born 4 June 1991) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. He has represented the Steelers at the 2020 Toyko Paralympics and has been selected for the 2024 Paris Paralympics. https://au.sports.yahoo.com/steelers-chasin ...

(1.0) (d),

(3.0),

(1.0),

Michael Ozanne Michael "Mick" Ozanne (born 28 April 1987) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. He represented the Steelers at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. Ozanne was born on 28 April 1987 and lives in Wooloowin, Brisbane, Queensland. Ozanne injured his ...

(0.5) (d), Richard Voris (1.5) (d), Jayden Warn (3.0) Women -

Shae Graham Shae Graham (born 16 December 1986) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. She competed at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, her first Games and the first female to be selected for the Steelers. At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, she won a bronze med ...

(2.5) (d)
Coaches – Brad Dubberley (coach); Greg Smith (assistant coach) ; Officials- Sam Allan (Team Leader), Lewis Quinn (Video Analyst), Alek Saunders (Mechanic), Brooke Cranney (physiotherapist), Emma Hall (Psychologist), David Sculac (Carer)
Team lost to Japan in the Semi-final 42-49.
Wheelchair rugby at the 2020 Summer Paralympics for detailed results.

(d) Paralympic Games debut

World Championships

Performances 1995–2018

* 1995 -

Nottwil Nottwil is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. History Nottwil is first mentioned around 1217-22 as ''Nottewile''. In 1275 it was mentioned as ''Otewile''. Nottwil is also the location where the ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

- 5th * 1998 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada - 5th * 2002 -

Gothenburg Gothenburg (; abbreviated Gbg; sv, Göteborg ) is the second-largest city in Sweden, fifth-largest in the Nordic countries, and capital of the Västra Götaland County. It is situated by the Kattegat, on the west coast of Sweden, and has ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

- ''Bronze'' * 2006 - Christchurch, New Zealand – 6th * 2010 - Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – ''Silver'' * 2014 - Odense, Denmark – ''Gold'' * 2018 -

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

- ''Silver'' * 2022 - Vejle, Denmark - ''Gold''

1995 Nottwil, Switzerland

Australia represented by:
Men - Wayne Sweeney (0.5), David Jacka (0.5), Andrew Greenaway (1.5), Bruce Stark (1.5), Ian Simpson (2.0), Justin Lunn (2.0), Steve Porter (2.5), Peter Lock (2.5),

(3.0) Coaches

1998 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Australia represented by:
Men - Cliff Clarke (0.5), Garry Croker (1.0), Ian Simpson (1.5), Bruce Stark (1.5), Brett Boylan (2.0), Dennis Miller (2.0),

(2.0), Steve Porter (2.5),

(3.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5) Coaches - Darryl Wingard (head coach), David Bonavita (assistant coach)

2002 Gothenburg, Sweden, Canada

Australia represented by:
Men - Ryan Scott (0.5),

(0.5), Garry Croker (1.0), Peter Harding (1.5),

(2.0), Brett Boylan (2.0), Kevin Kersnovske (2.0),

(2.5), Steve Porter (2.5), Patrick Ryan (2.5),

(3.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5) Coaches - Terry Vinyard (head coach), Glenn Stephens (assistant coach) Officials - Kim Ellwood (team manager)

2006 Christchurch New Zealand

Australia represented by:
Men - Ryan Scott (0.5),

(0.5), Gary Read (0.5),

(2.0), Kevin Kersnovske (2.0), Steve Porter (2.5),

(2.5), Patrick Ryan (2.5)

(3.0), Brad Dubberley (3.5), Ryley Batt (3.5) Coaches - Evan Bennett (head coach), Brad Dubberley (assistant coach) Officials - Kim Ellwood (manager) 091007 - Ryley Batt wheelchair rugby - 3b - 2007 action photo

091007 - Ryley Batt wheelchair rugby - 3b - 2007 action photo

2010 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Men –

(0.5), Ryley Batt (3.5),

(3.0),

(1.0),

(2.0), Ryan Scott (0.5), Steve Porter (2.5), Cameron Carr 2.0, Andrew Harrison (2.0)
Coaches - Brad Dubberley (head coach), Greg Smith (assistant coach) Officials - Kim Ellwood (team manager), Angela Mansell (Personal Care Assistant), Chevvy Cooper (Mechanic), Brett Robinson (Soft Tissue Therapist)

2014 Odense , Denmark

Australia represented by:
Men

(0.5), Ryley Batt (3.5),

(3.0),

Jason Ellery Jason Ellery is an Australian wheelchair rugby player. Ellery was born on 30 May 1986 and lives in Narre Warren, Victoria. He broke his neck in a snowboarding accident in Canada on Anzac Day in 2011. He took up wheelchair rugby after months ...

(2.0),

(0.5),

(1.0), Chris Bond (3.5), Ryan Scott (0.5), Curtis Palmer (2.5), Cameron Carr (2.0), Jayden Warn (3.0)
Coaches - Brad Dubberley (head coach), Greg Smith (assistant coach) Officials - Siobhan Crawshay (team manager), Elisha Gartner (Personal Care Assistant), Chevvy Cooper (Mechanic), Nick Sanders (performance analyst), Scott Curtis (physiotherapist)

2018 Sydney, Australia

Australia represented by:
Men Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5), Jayden Warn (3.0),

(3.0), Andrew Harrison (2.0),

Josh Nicholson Josh Nicholson (born 30 May 1995) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player and was a member of the Steelers that won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Biography Nicholson was born on 30 May 1995. At the age of fourteen months, ...

(2.0),

(1.0),

(0.5),

(0.5), Ryan Scott (0.5)
Coaches - Brad Dubberley (head coach), Greg Smith (assistant coach) Officials - Sam Allan - Manager, Victoria Kahn - Physiotherapist, Lewis Quinn - Performance Analyst, Bill Roberts - Mechanic, Scott Curtis - Physiotherapist, David Sculac - Personal Carer, Angela Mansell - Personal Carer, Tim Mannion - Media

2022 Vejle, Denmark

Australia represented by:
Team - 3.5 – Ryley Batt (3.5), Chris Bond (3.5),

(2.5*),

Ella Sabljak Ella Sabljak (born 17 October 1991) is an Australian 1.0 point wheelchair basketball player. She represented Australia at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. Biography Ella Louise Sabljak was born on 17 October 1991. A 1.0 point Guard, s ...

(2.5 *),

(2.0),

(2.0), Richard Voris (1.5),

(1.0),

(0.5),

James McQuillan James McQuillan (born 28 August 1993) is an Australian wheelchair rugby player and won a bronze medal with the Steelers at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Biography He grew up on a farm outside the town of Nanneella. In 2014, aged 20, McQuil ...

(0.5),

Emilie Miller Emilie Miller (born 9 March 1995) is an Australian Paralympic road hand cyclist and wheelchair rugby player. She won a bronze medal with the Steelers at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Personal Miller was born on 9 March 1995. As a 12 year old a ...

(0.5*),

(0.5) * female athletes receive a 0.5 classification bonus Coaches - Brad Dubberley (head coach)

Asia-Oceania Championship

Performances 2003-2023

*2003 -

Chiba Chiba may refer to: Places China * (), town in Jianli County, Jingzhou, Hubei Japan * Chiba (city), capital of Chiba Prefecture ** Chiba Station, a train station * Chiba Prefecture, a sub-national jurisdiction in the Greater Tokyo Area on ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

- ''Gold'' *2005 - Carnival City, South Africa - ''Silver'' *2007 -

- ''Gold'', *2009 - Christchurch, New Zealand - ''Gold'' *2011 - Seoul, South Korea - ''Gold'' *2013 - Pretoria, South Africa - ''Gold'' *2015 -

''Silver'' *2017 - Auckland, New Zealand - ''Gold'' *2023 - Tokyo, Japan - ''Silver''

Recognition

* 2012 -

Australian Paralympic Committee Awards The Paralympics Australia recognises the achievements of Paralympic athletes, coaches and administrators through several awards. These awards generally relate to performances at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games and are not necessarily awarded ...

- Team of the Year (joint winner with Sailing SKUD18 Crew Daniel Fitzgibbon &

Liesl Tesch Liesl Dorothy Tesch AM (born 17 May 1969) is an Australian wheelchair basketball player, sailor, and politician. She is a Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Gosford since the 2017 Gosford state by- ...

) * 2014 - AIS Sport Performance Awards - Para Performance of the Year. * 2016 - AIS Sport Performance Awards - Para Performance of the Year.

References

External links

Australian Paralympic Committee Wheelchair Rugby Program
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australia National Wheelchair Rugby Team National wheelchair rugby teams Australian Paralympic teams

The game

Athlete classifications

Paralympic Games

Performances 1996–2020

1996 Atlanta

2000 Sydney

2004 Athens

2008 Beijing

2012 London

2016 Rio

2020 Tokyo

World Championships

Performances 1995–2018

1995 Nottwil, Switzerland

1998 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2002 Gothenburg, Sweden, Canada

2006 Christchurch New Zealand

2010 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

2014 Odense , Denmark

2018 Sydney, Australia

2022 Vejle, Denmark

Asia-Oceania Championship

Performances 2003-2023

Recognition

See also

References

External links