Wheelchair Rugby 5s
Wheelchair rugby is fast paced, high octane, highly addictive and the only full contact Paralympic sport. Since the London 2012 Paralympics, wheelchair rugby has exploded in growth across the country. As the National Governing Body for wheelchair rugby, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR), has been at the forefront of that growth and has set out to expand and create vibrant wheelchair rugby communities.
Before the London 2012 Games there were eight clubs across the country, but now there are twenty-five clubs, with three national league divisions and the new discipline of Wheelchair Rugby 5s (WR5s), launched by GBWR.
As the name suggests, WR5s includes 5 players on court, whereas the Paralympic discipline has 4. The Paralympic discipline of wheelchair rugby is aimed at tetraplegic players, whereas WR5s is open to anyone with a physical impairment and paraplegics. Whilst the Paralympic discipline is at the heart of GBWR’s mission, the introduction of WR5s allows the sport of wheelchair rugby to be introduced to a wider audience, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits that come with participating in organised sports.
Keep reading to find out more about the benefits of playing, how far the sport could take you and more.
What Are the Benefits of Wheelchair Rugby?
Regular participants enjoy a number of physical benefits from taking part in wheelchair rugby, the most obvious being fitness. Wheelchair rugby is a physical sport, which is fantastic for keeping you active, healthy, as well as improving your upper body strength and giving participants increased independence.
Research has also shown that playing a team sport, is not only good physically, but mentally as well. Playing wheelchair rugby can drastically reduce stress levels and help to combat depression as well as many other mental health problems. Wheelchair rugby is also fun and a great way to make new friends!
How Far Could Someone Go in the Sport?
For those thinking about getting involved, the limits to how far the sport can take you are endless. You can play and train at a social level, meeting and making new friends or you can compete in the WR5s Summer League, and progress to the top division, the Premiership. The sport can be whatever the participant wants it to be, it can be taken very seriously, and players can dedicate a large amount of time to it or it could be a hobby that is used for socialising. It is really down to personal preference and what the participant wants to get out of the sport. Those also eligible for the Paralympic discipline can also aim to represent their country at the Paralympic Games!