Author: Editor Prime

The heart-pounding action of wheelchair rugby returns with the highly anticipated and long awaited European Championship B Division tournament in Finland.

From 2 to 6 October, elite athletes from across Europe will come face-to-face in Nastola, Finland, showcasing their incredible skill, determination, and sportsmanship. This event promises to be a spectacular display of hard hits, strategy, and pure excitement.

Having last gone head-to-head in 2021, this year’s B Division Championship will feature some of the most competitive teams in Europe, all vying for the chance to move up to the prestigious A Division just as Switzerland has done after their victory in 2021. With eight teams now competing in the B Division, it’s anyone’s game!

Among the standout athletes is Mordechai Zidkiyahu from Israel. With a reputation for scoring crucial points under pressure, he was voted Most Valuable Player at the last B Division Championship. Each team boasts its own stars, ready to leave everything on the court in the pursuit of victory.

Don’t miss your chance to witness this extraordinary event at the Pajulahti Olympic and Paralympic Training Centre. Whether you are a long-time fan of wheelchair rugby or new to the sport, the European Championship B Division offers an unforgettable experience and celebration of sport, strength, and spirit.

Witness the continent’s most dynamic and determined athletes in the flesh, no tickets needed! 

Follow us on Facebook (World Wheelchair Rugby) and Instagram (ww_rugby)  for updates, schedules, and behind-the-scenes content. See you at the games!

From rolling onto the court in a regular wheelchair to representing Canada on the Paralympic stage, Erika Schmutz has faced every challenge of competing in a male-dominated sport—and never let it stop her.

Erika’s journey began at a Tampa Bay Lightning game, where she was introduced to wheelchair rugby by former Canadian National Team coach Joe Soares. She was instantly hooked. Back home, she launched a local club, rallied athletes, and booked a gym—all in the name of the game she loved.

“I found a sport where I could be competitive. I loved the speed, the contact, and unknowingly found a great community to be a part of,” Erika recalls.

She travelled two hours to play on an American team, pushing herself against top talent to prepare for a shot at the Canadian National Team. After years of tireless training, countless rejections, and paying her own way, she finally made the team in 2005.

Her first Paralympic experience in 2008 was a dream come true, though being the only woman on the team often felt isolating.

“It was surreal and amazing—more than you can possibly imagine,” Erika reflects.

But being a woman in a male-dominated sport wasn’t easy.

“Making the team was hard. Getting floor time was even harder. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter if you’re faster or more experienced—it just doesn’t happen,” she shares.

In 2023, Erika represented Canada at the Paris Women’s Cup, where she experienced the power of an all-female tournament.

“There’s a different energy and support among the athletes and coaches. Women play a more tactical game versus the ‘run and gun’ style of male-dominated teams,” she says.

Now, Erika is looking to the future. She dreams of creating more women’s teams, building a sense of community, and inspiring more female athletes to step onto the court. Her ultimate goal? A women’s World Championship and Paralympic division.

Paralympian, coach, community leader, Wheelchair Rugby Canada Board member, and role model, Erika can now add WWR Ambassador to the list. With her incredible experience and passion, she is now dedicated to increasing female participation globally. If you want to hear more about her mission, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Cedric Nankin continues to take the wheelchair rugby world by storm and has stamped himself as the best 1.5 player in the world.

Although, as the host nation, France already had their qualification slot, Nankin helped solidify their place for Paris 2024 when France defeated Great Britain and secured the Gold Medal at the 2024 European Championship in Cardiff, Wales.

The “machine” of the French wheelchair rugby team is the nightmare of opposing attackers, as they find it difficult to find a way past the defensive specialist. He made his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016 and was named the best 1.5 player at the 2018 World Championships in Sydney, and the 2019 European Championships in Vejle, Denmark.

Photograph: D Echelard

Over the last several months, Loughborough University research has been taking place to support World Wheelchair Rugby’s (WWR) commitment and strategy to increasing female participation in the sport.

Co-led by Professor Vicky Tolfrey and Thomas Rietveld of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, the results of the research will help ensure the International Rules of the sport support female athletes and Wheelchair Rugby as a sport open to all genders.

WWR President Richard Allcroft said: “Our sport has had a competition rule for many years allowing an increase in points for each female athlete on court and it was accepted that it was a good concept. The outcomes of the research now support our International Rules, and it demonstrates the importance of research in shaping projects and strategies. I’d like to thank the Peter Harrison Centre for their continued support with Wheelchair Rugby and the wider Paralympic Movement. I’d also like to thank our Member Nation, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby for providing resources to allow this project to take place.”

Loughborough Researcher Thomas Rietveld said: “Working towards evidence-based research in Wheelchair Rugby is essential for participation and equity. Our research has shown a disparity in muscle strength between females and males. This affects the ability to perform key Wheelchair Rugby performance activities, like blocking, picking, and hitting. It would be advised to reconsider the current competition rule for female Wheelchair Rugby players.”

In Wheelchair Rugby, teams of four players on court cannot exceed 8.0 classification points. 

The World Wheelchair Rugby International Rule’s currently allows competing teams an additional 0.5 points for every female athlete on-court. Successful teams balance the roles of low-point (1.5 and below) and high-point (2.0 and above) athletes to ensure both defensive and offensive opportunities. 

The sport of wheelchair rugby is open to all genders, and it is important that athletes are not considered to have reduced levels of classification. This undermines the classification system and in many cases an athlete’s ability. 

For more information on the study, please visit the Peter Harrison Centre website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/phc/impact/female-participation-wheelchair-rugby/

View the Female Participation in Wheelchair Rugby Postcard here!

Sarah Adam was an able-bodied individual who wanted to combine her love of sports and occupational therapy, so she volunteered in wheelchair rugby, which was her initial introduction to the sport.

In 2016, Adam received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis. She had noticed some warning signs like numbness in her hands in high school, but as she progressed into graduate school, the situation worsened. Adam said she didn’t share that diagnosis with anyone, taking time to process it herself. But after that, her mindset changed.

Adam began playing wheelchair rugby in 2019 and made her international debut at the Americas Championship in 2022, where the team won gold and later that year won a silver medal at the World Championships. In 2023, she was part of the gold medal winning Parapan American Games team that secured USA Wheelchair Rugby a spot for Paris 2024. She also became the first American woman to win Parapan American Games gold in wheelchair rugby.

Patrice Dagenais is the co-captain of Canada alongside Trevor Hirschfield. He is known as a hard-working, intelligent player. Like many members of the Canadian team, Dagenais comes from a strong hockey background.

His ability to excel in wheelchair rugby has enabled him to realise his dreams of competing at the highest level. In 2012, he was invited to join the national wheelchair rugby team and represent Canada at the Paralympic Summer Games, where he won a silver medal. Patrice would later go on to capture gold at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games and recently competed in his third Paralympic Summer Games in 2021. Dagenais is also the president and coach of the Ottawa Stingers Wheelchair Rugby Club.

Jamie Stead made his international debut at the Canada Cup in 2014, he has since gone on to become a key member of the Great Britain team, representing them at European and World level. Stead made his Paralympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games, and took home a gold medal at the Paralympics in Tokyo 2020.

Stead is regarded as one of the best 2.5 players in the world, which has been recognised on a number occasions. He has been awarded MVP and best 2.5 player at the Quad Nations, while also picked best 2.5 player at the WWRC in Tokyo in 2019, and the Japan Para Championships in 2018.

Denmark’s Sebastian Frederiksen holds a reputable position in the realm of European sports due to his consistent performance. He has been a key member of Denmark’s Paralympic, World and European Championship teams for more than a decade. Despite being affected by cerebral palsy, which impacts his mobility, Frederiksen has shown no signs of slowing down to stamp himself as one of the world’s most highly regarded 3.5-classified players. His speed and physicality on the court have been vital in Denmark’s climb up the rankings.

Zak Madell has established himself as one of the best wheelchair rugby players in the world. He was named MVP of the 2014 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Odense, Denmark, the 2014 Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament, and the 2015 World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge. His biggest honour came when he was named Canada’s flagbearer of the closing ceremony of the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games, after leading the team to its first gold medal in 13 years.

Following a fourth-place team finish at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Madell took some time away from the national team to focus on his university studies earning a Diploma in Architectural Technology. Upon his return Madell finished second in tournament scoring at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, averaging over 26 tries per game from his four matches.

Daisuke Ikezaki switched from wheelchair basketball to wheelchair rugby in 2008, and was selected to represent the Japanese national team in April 2010 where he became an instant star. Ikezaki is one of the focal points on the Japanese wheelchair rugby team, a side that won its first Paralympic medal in the sport with bronze at Rio 2016, and its second at Tokyo 2020. He and fellow 3.0 player Yukinobu Ike have formed one of the most dangerous combinations in the sport, which they will continue to build on heading into the Paris 2024 Paralympics Games.

Ikezaki has the responsibility of being one of the primary ball carriers, as well as scoring and setting up plays. Defensive transition is also one of Ikezaki’s main strengths.