Wheelchair Rugby in Canberra

Crash The Capital - Wheelchair rugby in Canberra

As part of the Sydney Slam Series Wheel chair sports NSW will be taking the
4th round of the competition on the road, hosting an event in Canberra on
the 24th of May.

Four teams made up of players from all over NSW and the ACT will be heading
to Canberra for a day of Rugby, including Canberra locals Daniel Savage and
Ben Ackland. There will also be several current and past Olympians including
the Australian team stalwarts Ryley Batt and Curtis Palmer.

Wheelchair rugby, previously known as Murderball, is an intense full contact
sport played by athletes in chairs. The game takes place on a basketball
court pitting two teams of four players in heavily armored wheelchairs
against each other over four 8 minutes quarters. The sport has been
described as a mix of rugby union, gridiron and Ice hockey. It is played
with a volleyball and the primary goal is to carry the ball over the
oppositions line, not so easy when the opposition will block, bash and crash
into you to stop you scoring.

Australia has a long and impressive history in wheelchair rugby including
gold at the 2012 Paralympics. The Sydney slam series acts not only as a
social competition for NSW/ACT but as the training ground for future
Olympians with several players currently members of the Australian Squad.

Come along this Saturday (24th May) to the ANU Sports Centre between 1-4pm
to check out a fast paced, action packed sport that is unlike anything
you've seen before.

For more details, interviews, and related media contact
Mark Wilson, Wheelchair rugby coordinator, 02 9809 5260 -
MarkW@wsnsw.org.au<mailto:MarkW@wsnsw.org.au>
Daniel Savage, Canberra based competitor, 0431344005 -
DJSavage31@gmail.com<mailto:DJSavage31@gmail.com>[cid:image002.jpg@01CF76A1.
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