Wheelchair rugby is a team sport for athletes with a disability. Developed in Canada in the late 1970s, it is currently practiced in over twenty countries around the world and is a Paralympic sport since its induction in the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta.
The wheelchair rugby original name was murderball due to its contact and in the United States, it is referred to as quad rugby. All wheelchair rugby players must be quadriplegic as stated in the rules. Unlike most sports Wheelchair rugby is a mixed sport with men and women sharing the same court and in the same teams Wheelchair rugby is played indoors on a hardwood court of the same size as basketball.
Wheelchair Rugby is played in a manual wheelchair. The rules include detailed specifications for the wheelchair. Many players use custom-made sports wheelchairs that are specifically designed for wheelchair rugby. Key design features include a front bumper, designed to help strike and hold opposing wheelchairs, and wings, which are positioned in front of the main wheels to make the wheelchair more difficult to stop and hold. All wheelchairs must be equipped with spoke protectors, to prevent damage to the wheels, and an anti-tip device at the back.
The sport of wheelchair rugby is governed by the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation which was established in 1993.
Some of the official rules includes:
If your interested you may like look up the likes of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby or United States Quad Rugby Association.
Interested in Wheelchair Sports? Look at the comprehesive list of Wheelchair Related Sports.
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