D R M DISABILITY SPORT
The Wheelchair Rugby league World Cup is Coming… Get ready to cheer on James Simpson and Team England on Armistice Day. IT has been a tumultuous 12 months for sport, with the COVID-19 pandemic placing doubt around a number of high profile events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In 2021, however, the Rugby League World Cup looks set to be going ahead here in the UK. The Rugby League World Cup (RLWC2021) is the pinnacle event of rugby league, globally contested every four years. RLWC2021 will be a breakthrough moment in the tournament’s history with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair competitions being staged together for the first time. The three tournaments will take place across 21 venues throughout England, with the wheelchair competitions contested by two groups of four teams. The teams in the wheelchair competition are England, Australia, Spain, Norway, France, Wales, Scotland, and the USA. Wheelchair Rugby League inclusion in the world cup means that the wheelchair players will be part of the same brand and profile as the non-disabled teams, and have the same level of support. Rugby League is signalling to the world that disabled sport is just as important as non-disabled sport.
Offside, knock-on and in-touch apply just like in
the full-version game.
Customer Director for the RLWC2021, Terri Lynam, states, “Wheelchair Rugby League is not only highspeed but also extremely skillful and there can be few better arenas to showcase these incredible players than the Copper Box – the ‘Box that Rocked’ at London 2012 Olympic Games – and the Sheffield English Institute of Sport all leading to a thrilling final at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. We want everyone to come and experience this amazing game for themselves.” The RLWC2021 team hope that the wheelchair tournament will provide a boost for the sport and encourage more players to take part, not just in England, but globally.
“WHEELCHAIR RUGBY LEAGUE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE MOST INCLUSIVE SPORTS AROUND.”
So what is Wheelchair Rugby League? Wheelchair Rugby League is considered one of the most inclusive sports around. Not solely for disabled athletes, non-disabled people can compete as well, and both men and women can play in the same team. The rules for wheelchair rugby league are quite similar to rugby league, with only a few minor changes to allow for the use of wheelchairs. Rules of the game include: 5 players a side. Conversions are scored by punching the ball over the
mini-posts from a tee. Tackles are made the same way as Tag Rugby by
pulling the attached tag off the opposing player. 5 tackles are followed by the handing over of
possession.
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