Quaycentre at Sydney’s Olympic Park this week will host what many expect to become the hottest national wheelchair rugby championship of recent times.
The late inclusion of the New Zealand Wheel Blacks in the tournament complements five dedicated teams from Australian states, each hoping to leave the Olympic Park and become the GIO Wheelchair rugby champion in 2019.
Winning gold in 2018, Queensland has come up with two teams in the championship that seek to continue their recent dominance in the national arena. NSW will be encouraged by the advantage of home fans and welcome the inclusion of Australian Steelers captain, Riley Bath, who went missing due to injury last year. The silver medalist of 2018 Victoria named an experienced team, which was able to lead the representative of Australia Jason Liz.
A great sign for Australian wheelchair rugby – the 2019 national championship will feature the AAMI South Australia Sharks, competing for the first time since 2015.
Although most of the AAMI SA Sharks team proudly hails from South Australia, the team has been improved by the inclusion of a number of players from Western Australia – a positive sign for the development of wheelchair rugby in Australia.
Wheelchair Rugby Australia general manager Chris Nay is thrilled to be expecting an exceptional three-day competition.
“Looking at the competition teams, this event could be the closest national wheelchair rugby championship Australia has seen in a few years.”
“This is the top competition in our country, and the level of the game will be extremely high. Matches are held on Friday and weekends and I would like to encourage people to go for this sport and see the national championship live. Wheelchair rugby is truly one of the great sports for spectators, ”Mr. Nye continued.
Disability Sports Australia and Wheelchair Rugby Australia are grateful to Naming Rights sponsor GIO for their continued support of wheelchair rugby in Australia.
Entry to the championship is by gold coins, and all games will be broadcast live www.wheelchairrugby.com.au!!
Fixtures
Friday, June 28th
10:00 Opening Ceremony
11:00 GIO NSW Gladiators vs. Queensland Cyclones
12:45 AAMI SA Sharks vs. Suncorp Queensland Tornadoes
14:30 Victoria Protect Thunder vs. Vero New Zealand Wheel Blacks
16:15 Queensland Cyclones vs. Suncorp Queensland Tornadoes
18:00 Vero New Zealand Wheel Blacks vs. GIO NSW Gladiators
19:45 AAMI SA Sharks vs. Victoria Protect Thunder
Saturday, June 29th
09:30 Sancorp Queensland Tornado vs. Vera New Zealand Will Blacks
11:15 Queensland Cyclones vs. AAMI SA Sharks
13:00 Victoria Protect Thunder vs. GIO NSW Gladiators
14:45 Faith New Zealand Will Blacks vs. Queensland Cyclones
16:30 Sancorp Queensland Tornado vs. Victoria Protect Thunder
18:15 GIO NSW Gladiators vs. AAMI SA Sharks
Sunday, June 30th
09:00 Queensland Cyclones vs. Victoria Protect Thunder
10:30 GIO NSW Gladiators vs. Suncorp Queensland Tornadoes
12:00 AAMI SA Sharks vs. Vero New Zealand Wheel Blacks
14:00 Match for bronze
15:30 Gold medal match
17:00 Presentation of the medal
Additional information: Chris Nay, General Manager of Australian Wheelchair Rugby
M: 0405 036 727
E: chris@wheelchairrugby.com.au
https://www.sports.org.au/news-feed/2019/6/25/australias-best-wheelchair-rugby-talent-converge-on-sydney-for-the-2019-national-championship
