Photo credit: Wheelchair Rugby Australia and Joep Buijs Photography
The Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge of 2025 has progressed to its final stages today, with the Australian Steelers set to face the Netherlands in what promises to be an exhilarating gold medal match. Scheduled for 2:15pm today, the final marks a significant moment for Australian wheelchair rugby. This event, hosted in Adelaide, is currently recognised as the largest wheelchair rugby competition globally in 2025.
The Australian Steelers have seen significant new talent join their ranks with four players, Tai Martin-Page, Lilliana Prucha, Damien Mortaud, and Conor Tweedy making their debut in this year’s competition. Additionally, Jayden Jackson and Cooper Blackwood, who debuted earlier this year, also form part of this dynamic team.
The competition has been a memorable one for the Australian Steelers as it’s the first time since 2018 that they have competed on their home ground. A line-up of six countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Germany are participating, making the competition fiercely competitive.
One of the highlights of the upcoming final is that it will be Shae Graham’s 100th game for the Australian team. Shae Graham is notably the first female athlete to represent the Australian Steelers, marking her achievement as a significant milestone in the history of the sport.
The World Challenge isn’t the only major sporting competition in full swing. Running alongside the WRWC is the existing domestic competition, the National Championships, which sees states compete against each other across 2 divisions, joined by the Chungnam providence of South Korea, playing across 2 Divisions. This year, the Division 1 final will see the Suncorp Queensland Cyclones take on the New South Wales Gladiators, while the Division 2 final will pit the South Australia Sharks against the Australian Capital Territory Buccaneers.
There are over 60 Australian players involved and 65 international players from various countries participating in the whole event, which has included 40 matches over four days.
With the World Challenge and the National Championships reaching their climax today, wheelchair rugby fans are urged to snap up the remaining tickets to support the teams in person.
This event not only highlights the prowess of internationally acclaimed athletes but also opens doors for talents at the grassroots level through its inclusive approach and broad participation. The extensive setup of this championship reflects on its importance and the role it plays in promoting wheelchair rugby not just in Australia, but on a global scale.
As the competition draws to a close, the excitement builds up to witness which teams will rise to the occasion and claim the championship titles in their respective divisions. Fans around the world are looking forward to seeing top-notch wheelchair rugby performances that promise to captivate and inspire audiences across all ages.
Limited tickets are still available for finals day, buy yours now and help fill the stands with green and gold to cheer on our Steelers: https://www.wheelchairrugby.com.au/tickets
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