For the first time in their collaborative history, World Rugby will be working with World Wheelchair Rugby, in launching the 2023 International Wheelchair Rugby Cup. The five day tournament takes place alongside the Rugby World Cup in France, and runs from Wednesday 18th to Sunday 22nd October.
The tournament is held in Paris, with the pool stages and semi final matches take place at the Halle Carpentier, before the final in the Accor Arena. Tickets for the event start from just five euros, so if your heading to the French capital for the Rugby World Cup, be sure to check out this tournament.
The competition is set to receive more media coverage than ever before, due to the supportive partnership with World Rugby. The tournament puts the eight best Wheelchair Rugby nations in the world against each other, in two exciting pools of action. Host nations France are the reigning world champions, with New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Denmark, Japan and the United States making up the sides.
Team GB won Gold medals at the 2020 Paralympic Games, with a 54-49 victory over the USA in the final. Japan took home the Bronze medals in their home country, with a 60-52 win over Australia.
France Wheelchair Rugby captain Cedric Nankin spoke at today’s Rugby World Cup Weekly Tournament Conference, about the significance of this competition also taking place on home soil.
“Well, for us as athletes, it’s huge. To have this organisation, it’s a first time for us. And on top of that, it’s in France. So clearly, it’s magical. It’s great preparation for us when for what is to come, because we know that next year, there will be the Paralympics.
“So it’s a way for us of expressing our game, and also to gauge ourselves because we might be at the top in Europe, but we also need to be able to see what we are like compared to other international teams. So it’s a great first for France.”
Nankin then talked about how important World Rugby’s partnership is for the growth of Wheelchair Rugby. The 39-year-old highlighted this significance, and also gave an overview on the sport for those who may not be aware.
“Yes, of course (the partnership is significant), it’s also about getting our sports known to make the wider audience discover our sport because we can benefit from the media attention. And the proof is that I’m here in front of you. And clearly we hope that spectators will come to support us, because we’ll need it. We will know it’s going to be a difficult competition, but we know we can do something beautiful.
“Come and see come and discover. But not just that because we’re completely the opposite of what you might imagine, about disability. Clearly when we think about disability we talk about we think about vulnerability, about protection about being careful. And here we’re talking about a contact sport, which at time at one time was called ‘Murder-ball’.
“So it kind of tells you a bit about what it’s about. So it truly is a contact sport, as you saw in the video. There are wheelchairs that turnover, but not just that, there’s also quite a lot of strategy involved. And that’s what makes this sport what it is. And truly, visually at first, you think that doesn’t look at all like traditional rugby, but the spirit of rugby is clearly present.”
Wheelchair rugby is played on a basketball court with a volleyball, with four players from either side allowed on the court at any given time. There can be up to 12 players in a team, with points scored when a player takes the ball into their opponents in-goal area.
“And it’s mixed (gender). Nankin added. “Yes, it’s one of the rare mixed team sports. And no age limit, well, the youngest I’ve had in my club was 15 years old when he joined, he’s grown up now. He’s older than that. I think he’s 55 now.”
Nankin closed out the press conference with a few words for the French National team at the Rugby World Cup. Nankin’s France have previously won the International Wheelchair Rugby Cup, whilst Fabien Galthie’s men are currently searching to bring the Web Ellis trophy to the home of Les Bleus for the first time ever.
“I’m not sure if I can advise him, but we have to carry on believing in yourself and in the team. And I think they’ll go far and they will perform. I trust them. I have confidence in them.”