As one of the only full-contact disability sports, it is little wonder wheelchair rugby has been one of the biggest hits at the Paralympic Games over the last ten years.

The sport is open to both men and women, and is one of the only games which allows them to compete on the same team.

But it’s not only players who are welcome; there are loads of opportunities to play your part on the sidelines too. We’re constantly on the look out for referees, coaches, officials and support staff to help at training sessions and tournaments. Get in touch if you’re interested in finding out more.

The game was invented in 1977 in Canada by a group of tetraplegic wheelchair basketball players who were tired of losing out on court time to their more functional team mates. Clearly many others felt the same as the sport quickly grew in popularity and spread to the USA.

The sport landed on these shores in the early 1980s, when the States team flew over to give an exhibition at Stoke Mandeville. Soon after our first three clubs were established and there are now more than 30 teams up and down the UK.

Globally, the sport was debuted at the World Wheelchair Games in 1990 and it became a full Paralympic sport at Sydney 2000, following a demonstration at games in Atlanta 1996.

Great Britain have constantly competed with the world’s best teams, qualifying for every Paralympic Games and winning five gold medals at the Wheelchair Rugby European Championships. In 2021 at the postponed Tokyo 2020 games, Great Britain took home a gold medal following a thrilling game against a strong USA team.