Paris 2024: Introduction to wheelchair rugby

Welcome to week 21 of Paris 2024 Paralympic Sports Weeks. This week, everything you need to know about wheelchair rugby, a full-contact sport that was introduced to the Paralympic Games more than two decades ago.

Eight teams – France, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and the USA - will compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, which open on 28 August. 

Brief history of wheelchair rugby 

Wheelchair Rugby was invented in 1977 in Winnipeg, Canada by a group of athletes who were looking for a sport which would allow players with reduced arm and hand function to participate equally, according to World Wheelchair Rugby.

In 1979, the first Canadian National Championship was held, while the first wheelchair rugby team in the United States was created in 1981. This led to the organisation of the first international tournament the following year, bringing together teams from the two countries.

The sport gained popularity around the world, with eight teams participating in the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in 1995.

Wheelchair Rugby was included as a demonstration sport in the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. The sport was included in the Paralympic programme as a full medal sport at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.

The USA have won the most medals at the Paralympic Games with two gold, two silver and two bronze. Reigning World Champions Australia have won two gold and two silver medals.

What to watch in wheelchair rugby

In wheelchair rugby, teams compete to score the most tries. A try is scored when a player with the ball crosses the try line with two wheels.

Each team can have four-mixed gender players on the court at any one time. Hitting and blocking are used to stop athletes from the opposing team or to create openings for athletes to score.

Matches are played in four quarters, eight minutes each. If there is a tie, three-minute overtime periods are played until a winner is declared.

Once an athlete gets possession of the ball, the athlete has 10 seconds to bounce or pass, 12 seconds to get to the other half, and 40 seconds to score. The pressure is on, adding excitement to the game.

Athletes are allocated a Sport Class based on a point score ranging from 0.5 to 3.5. These are given based on the degree of activity limitation on their ability to play the sport.

The four players on the court cannot exceed a total of eight points. An additional half point is allowed for each female player on the court.

Defensive players use a longer wheelchair and have a wide bumper designed to strike and hold opponents. While attacking players use wheelchairs designed for speed and agility to maneuver through tight spaces.

Tactics, physicality and the tumbles are all part of the game.

Memorable Paralympic moments

The USA captured the first-ever Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair rugby at Sydney 2000 after defeating home favourites Australia in the final.

The eight-team tournament also featured athletes from Canada, Germany, Great Britain, New Zealand, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The USA have won a medal at every Paralympic Games since Sydney 2000.

At Rio 2016, Australia and the USA showed the excitement wheelchair rugby can produce when they battled for gold in the final, in what was regarded by many as the greatest game in the sport’s history.

After four quarters of regulation time, with the lead changing hands several times, the score was tied. In the first overtime period, the USA led by one until Australia scored with less than two seconds remaining, sending the match into an unprecedented second overtime period.

In the additional overtime, Australia gained a one-goal lead but the USA never gave in and came within inches of scoring the match-tying point in the dying seconds.

Australia's victory made them the first back-to-back Paralympic champions in wheelchair rugby history.

At Tokyo 2020, Great Britain won their first-ever wheelchair rugby gold medal, beating the USA 54-49 in the final at Yoyogi National Stadium. Great Britain also became the first European team to top the podium at the Paralympics.

Hosts Japan finished their Tokyo 2020 campaign with bronze following a 60-52 victory over defending champions Australia.

Paralympic debutants Denmark also excited wheelchair rugby fans after pulling off one of the biggest shocks of all time by beating Australia in the group stage.

Paris 2024 sports programme

The wheelchair rugby tournament will take place between 29 August and 2 September. The group stage is held from 29-31 August, followed by placing playoffs and semifinals. The medal matches will be on 2 September.

The teams that have qualified for the Paris 2024 Paralympics and how they qualified are:

France: Host and 2023 European Championship winners

Great Britain (Tokyo 2020 gold medallists): 2nd place at the 2023 European Championship

Denmark: 3rd place at the 2023 European Championship

Japan (Tokyo 2020 bronze medallists): 2023 Asia Oceania Championship winners

USA (Tokyo 2020 silver medallists): 2023 Parapan American Games winners

Australia: 2024 Paralympic Qualification Tournament winners 

Canada: 2nd place at the 2024 Paralympic Qualification Tournament

Germany: 3rd place at the 2024 Paralympic Qualification Tournament

Paris 2024 venue

Wheelchair rugby competition will take place at the Champ De Mars Arena, a 10,000 sqm building in the centre of Paris currently known as the Grand Palais Overlay.

Designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, this beautiful venue, built with sustainable materials, was created to host art, fashion and sports events while the Grand Palais was being renovated.  

Discover more about wheelchair rugby  and the 22 sports in the Paris 2024 Paralympic sports programme