Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge touches down in Adelaide
South Australia has added another huge sporting event to its repertoire this year, with Adelaide hosting the Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge.
The World Challenge will see the Australian Steelers compete on home soil for the first time since 2018.
The competition joins the likes of Gather Round, LivGolf and the upcoming Beach Volleyball World Championships on the growing list of massive sporting events hosted in South Australia as it fights for the title of Australia’s sporting state.
When Victorian-born Steelers player James McQuillan was asked if SA could be in the running for the coveted title, he said, “I reckon it might be… It’s just unreal, there’s so much happening over here”.
“As long as you don’t take the Australian Open or the F1 off of Melbourne, I’ll be happy,” McQuillan said.
The Paralympian joined the world of wheelchair rugby after suffering a spinal injury playing football.
Within a year of getting involved with the sport, McQuillan had joined the National Development team, debuted for Australia and won a world championship.
“It took me a while to get used to and comfortable with my disabilities as a quadriplegic,” McQuillan said, noting that his career in the sport has “been a bit of a whirlwind”.
Having recently won a bronze medal at the Paris Paralympic Games, McQuillan’s story shows how a tragedy can turn into a great success.
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With the Steelers often travelling to other countries to compete, athletes are keen to play on home turf.
“I’ve never played at home in front of the family and friends who are coming this weekend, so it’s pretty exciting,” McQuillan said.
Adelaide-based Steelers player Tai Martin-Page will debut in this weekend’s world challenge.
“To make my debut in my hometown, in front of family and friends, is a huge honour,” Martin-Page said.
“We’ve trained hard, we’re ready, and all that’s left is to hear the crowd in the stadium cheering us on.
“Representing Australia is a privilege, and the Steelers have a rich history and a reputation for excellence. To be part of that legacy now is something I don’t take for granted.”
Martin-Page, along with Queenslanders Conor Tweedy, Damien Mortaud and Lilliana Prucha, will make their Australian Steelers debut in the World Challenge this weekend.
To those who think that wheelchair rugby would be similar to traditional rugby, think again.
“It’s a completely different game,” McQuillan said.
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He noted that the only similarities between the sports are the “big hits” and “crossing the try line at the end”.
“Wheelchair rugby is an amazing, fast-paced, high-contact, high-intensity sport. Most people who come and have a look fall in love with it,” McQuillan said.
Following the recent Paralympic games, traction for inclusive sports is growing rapidly.
Though only being involved in the sport for just over three years, McQuillan said he’s seen it gain popularity.
“Even in my time … there’s been a huge shift in the amount of interest not just in wheelchair rugby but in other parasports as well,” he said.
Despite rarely playing at home, McQuillan says that Australia has a “pretty strong [wheelchair rugby] scene compared to other places in the world”.
Considering accessibility is a top priority for parasports, McQuillan commends South Australia for its inclusivity so far.
“From what I’ve seen, South Australia has put on an amazing spectacle,” he said.
For the duration of the World Challenge, Adelaide Metro is offering a dedicated free shuttle bus service for staff, athletes, and volunteers, as well as free travel for attendees with valid event day tickets.
McQuillan hopes to “keep getting South Australia to back us in,” as the state expands its sporting event portfolio.
“The more we can get it out there and get people to come and have a look, the better it will be,” he said.
“There are some amazing athletes getting around, and everyone’s got an amazing story. It’s pretty special.”
The competition will see the Steelers take on teams from Canada, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands and rivals from across the pond – New Zealand.
The World Challenge will also play alongside both the National Championship and the Division 2 Championship, seeing Adelaide transformed into a real festival of rugby.
The event will take place from Thursday, 29 May to Sunday, 1 June at the Netball SA Stadium in Mile End South, with tickets on sale from the Wheelchair Rugby Australia website.
