An Introduction to Wheelchair Rugby

When most people hear the word rugby, they often think of big, burly men bashing into each other to get possession of an oval-shaped ball. They think of players without protective padding who are perfectly willing to break a bone or lose a tooth all for the sake of one goal. Many share the opinion that rugby is a violent sport, and that it is only for able-bodied men. There are contradictions to this, though. For one thing, women’s rugby leagues have continuously gained popularity over the years. For another, children have been known to play the sport competitively as well. Another challenge to the earlier statement is the existence of wheelchair rugby, a variation of the sport intended for disabled rugby players of both genders. Wheelchair rugby was first introduced in Canada in the late 1970s. From there it spread to the United States, where it was given the name Quad Rugby. In the American version of the sport, players would only qualify if they have lost function in three limbs, at the very least. Despite this factor, wheelchair rugby is every bit as physical and every bit as full of contact as the traditional form of the sport. Wheelchair rugby and conventional rugby are actually different from each other. Old school rugby was mostly based on soccer. On the other hand, wheelchair rugby was developed with influences from basketball and ice hockey, among other sports. In addition, traditional rugby league clubs usually play outdoors in a grass field while wheelchair rugby is an indoor, hard court game. One of the benefits of wheelchair rugby is its therapeutic effects on its players. It encourages members of wheelchair rugby league clubs to maintain their good physical condition despite their disability. It is also a way to restore their self-esteem and confidence, some of which they probably lost when they lost their limb functions. At present, wheelchair rugby league clubs are open in twenty countries all over the world. The International Wheelchair Rugby Federation is responsible for regulating the sport on a global level. The most popular international wheelchair rugby events are the Zone Championships, the World Championships, and the Paralympic Games.