Australia’s wheelchair rugby team, the Steelers, will play on home soil for the first time since 2018 when the 2025 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge lands in Adelaide later this month.
Taking place between 29 May to 1 June at Netball SA Stadium, the international event will be the largest wheelchair rugby competition in the world in 2025. The tournament will bring together top-ranked national teams from Canada, Brazil, Germany, New Zealand and the Netherlands, with Korea’s Chungnam Province also competing in the National Championship.
South Australian fans will have the rare opportunity to see the Steelers in action, with local athlete Tai Martin-Page making his national debut in front of a home crowd. He joins fellow first-time players Conor Tweedy, Liliana Prucha and Damien Mortaud in a refreshed line-up.
Australian Head Coach Brad Dubberley said the tournament will give you a mix of experience and new talent.
“It’s a significant number of debuts, and half of our team playing at the World Challenge will have played their first Steelers game in the first six months of this year – it’s a very different team, and it’s exciting for everybody,” Dubberley said.
“Probably none more so than Tai Martin-Page who will be a bit of a hometown hero in Adelaide, debuting in front of his friends and family.”
“We’ve got some really strong teams coming out to play in the World Challenge, and all our opponents will also have new players in their teams, it will make for an interesting competition,” Dubberley continued.
The World Challenge also includes the 2025 Wheelchair Rugby National Championship and a new juniors division. The event is supported by a three-year hosting deal between the South Australian Government and Wheelchair Rugby Australia.
Wheelchair Rugby Australia CEO Chris Nay said, “This landmark event will see seven countries compete in Australia, bringing international teams to Adelaide to go head-to-head against the might of the Australian Steelers in front of a roaring home crowd – something that hasn’t happened since 2018.”
“The Steelers are one of the most successful sporting teams in history, showcasing an immense level of athleticism, skill and strategy from every player.”
“We can’t wait to see the team and our sport shine in the spotlight at home in front of our fans. This is a changing moment, not only for wheelchair rugby, but disability sport more broadly.”
Tickets are on sale now, with full event, day and session passes available, including evening “Primetime” Steelers sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Finals will take place on Sunday 1 June.
2025 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge
Where: Netball SA Stadium
When: Thursday, 29 May – Sunday, 1 June 2025
For more information and tickets, click here.
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