11/11/2022

Wheelchair Rugby League - A Beginner's Guide

2 wheelchair rugby league players, 1 attempting a tackle and the other ducking with the ball

In 2022 the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup took place alongside the men's and women's tournaments for the very first time. The game has become famous for its fast-paced and skilful action, huge collisions, and frequent spills following chair to chair contact. With the popularity of Wheelchair Rugby League growing so rapidly over the years, you'd be forgiven for asking the question...

So, what is Wheelchair Rugby League?

Don't worry we're here to help. In a nutshell, this is Rugby League in a wheelchair. However, this adaptation of the running game is the only variant of Rugby League to be wholly inclusive.

The mixed gender teams allow disabled and non-disabled participants the opportunity to compete with and against each other, at all levels, in Sports Wheelchairs.

The sport was developed by French Rugby League player, coach and official, Wally Salvan back in 2004, and saw the game's inaugural world cup take place in Sydney, Australia, during 2008.

Basic Rules

The game utilises some slight adaptations of the Rugby League rules (click here if you're new to those), including:

The game takes place on a 46m x 20m court
Use of a size 4 rugby ball
Five-a-side teams, each including 3 physically disabled players and 2 non-disabled players
A game lasts 80-minutes, split into 2 x 40-minute halves
Goal posts look similar to the running game, with cross bars 2 metres from the ground and 3 metres long
The ball may only be passed backwards
Just like in the full version of Rugby League, in-touch, knock-on and offside rules all apply
All kicks, penalties, drop outs and conversions are all done with the fist.
Special posts are out in place for players to take conversions, drop kicks and penalty kicks

Scoring

The game is won by the team with the most points at full time.

When an attacking player places the ball on the ground over the oppositions goal line, or in the case of players with limited mobility - tapping the ball on the wheel of their chair, this is called a try.

Tries are worth 4 points. Drop goals score 1 point, with conversions or penalties worth 2 points.

Rules On Tackling

a pile of wheelchair rugby league tackle ribbons

Tackling a player in Wheelchair Rugby League is made in much the same way as Tag Rugby. All players wear 2 tags (essentially long strips of material) on the side of each shoulder, and these are held in place by Velcro. Tackles are completed when a defender completely removes a tag from the ball carrier's shoulder.

You'll see a big bunch of spare tags around the player's knees, these are used to replace the removed tag and must be done so before an attacking player can continue.

If 6 tackles are completed, possession is handed over to the over team.

How To Get Involved

The UK currently boasts a whopping 24 Wheelchair Rugby League clubs, including the North Wales Crusaders, 2 time winners of Every Body Moves's Club of the Month award and where all the photos in this article came from.

Many offer welcoming and supportive ways to try the sport, with additional pathways to progress into friendly competition and beyond.

To find your nearest Wheelchair Rugby Leage club, you enter your location on either: