Wheelchair Rugby League ready to roll with new season
Author: Cameron Stallard QRL content producer
A new season of Wheelchair Rugby League is set to get underway this weekend with anyone and everyone welcome to try out the sport on wheels.
The game is an all-inclusive version of Queensland’s favourite pastime, open to all abilities, all ages and all capabilities; and will even feature as part of next year’s Rugby League World Cup in England.
Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League chair David Nugent said despite making line-breaks on wheels, the rules aren’t too dissimilar to other versions of rugby league.
“The game is very much like tag rugby league… the players wear tags and that’s how you complete a tackle – you have to remove a tag from your opponent,” Nugent said.
“It’s five-a-side, across a basketball court-sized field and we play two 40 minute halves, just like most A Grade games.
“We still refer to ourselves as a collision sport as well.
“Our players play in sports chairs, so they’re specifically constructed to take the contact.”
With a come and try day this Sunday in South East Queensland, Nugent is hoping this will spark interest to restart their fully-fledged competition.
“What we are hoping to do is get enough interest so we can start a competition in a couple of weeks time,” Nugent said.
“We had a bit of a false start due to COVID at the start of the year, so this is a way of getting everyone back and saying ‘hey, we’re back and ready to go’.
Wheelchair Rugby League is open to all abilities, all ages and all capabilities (Photo : Steve Montgomery)
“After the weekend, we’re going to play competitively, starting in two weeks’ time every Sunday.
“So we’ll split up the teams evenly and play a round robin affair over five weeks.
The wheely fun action isn’t just limited to Brisbane, with the sport resuming in North and Central Queensland as well.
Wheelchair Rugby League is open to all abilities, all ages and all capabilities.
“Townsville is set to kick-off training on Monday night, with plans for a shortened-season to run into November,” Nugent said.
“Central Queensland is a little more in its infancy, so they’re looking to run some come and try days in September and October, with a view to get their season up and running in February next year.
