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Wheelchair rugby is a hard-hitting, fast-paced sport designed for athletes with disabilities affecting all four limbs, such as quadriplegia. The combination of strategy and physicality makes it an exciting sport for both players and spectators.

Veterans are naturally drawn to wheelchair rugby, enjoying the full-contact competition and camaraderie of the team environment. Paralyzed Veterans of America is committed to opening doors in the sport of wheelchair rugby for Veterans at all levels of play. 

Rugby is a co-ed sport with opportunities for play at all skill levels.

For more information, contact Katelynn Johnson at Katelynnj@pva.org or (202) 416-7637.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Event
Date
Location
2024 Wheelchair Rugby Camp
September 20-22, 2024
Phoenix, AZ
8th Annual PVA Wheelchair Rugby Invitational
TBD
TBD

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

  1. A Great Start: PVA supports Veterans in their first days on the court, providing access to mentors who will provide the expertise, support and connections for a successful beginning.  
  2. Expert Coaching: PVA partners with dedicated and experienced coaches, who have reached the highest levels of the sport and who are committed to helping athletes develop their skills at any level.
  3. Skill Development: PVA rugby camps provide opportunity for skill development for players at all levels, helping them to achieve their personal goals in the sport.
  4. USWRA: PVA collaborates closely with the United States Wheelchair Rugby Association to to support and expand the Veteran participation in Wheelchair Rugby and ensure that athletes receive a top-tier experience during their participation in the PVA Wheelchair Rugby program.

For more information or to get involved in the PVA Wheelchair Rugby program, contact Katelynn Johnson at Katelynnj@pva.org or (202) 416-7637.

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY: THE BASICS

Teams play four players at a time each with a classification between 0.5 and 3.5. The players on the court cannot have classifications that sum more than 8 points. The goal of the game is to travel with the ball across the end line in the designated key to score the most points.

HISTORY

Wheelchair Rugby debuted during the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, and has been featured in each subsequent Games.

Learn more about wheelchair rugby in the Paralympics:

THE PVA WHEELCHAIR RUGBY INVITATIONAL

Annually, PVA hosts an invitational tournament with the goal of highlighting and honoring Veterans who compete. The tournament features 18 teams in three divisions and is the largest tournament of the year outside of the USWRA National Finals. 

The winner of each division is awarded the Code of Honor Cup.

Congratulations to the 2024 Code of Honor Cup Winners:

  • Division 1:  WWAR Generals
  • Division 2:  Ability 360 Heat 2
  • Division 3:  University of Michigan

See all the photos from the 2024 Rugby Invitational on Flickr.

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PVA WHEELCHAIR RUGBY CAMP

PVA’s Rugby camp is open to any player seeking to improve their level of play. Coaching, provided by Paralympians Scott Hogsett and Ernie Chun will include drills, scrimmaging, strategy and tactics. Participants will also learn how to train for the court, how to improve their nutrition and ways to prevent injuries.

The next rugby camp is schedule for September, 2024! Check back soon for more information.

For more information on Volunteer Opportunities, contact Vickie Lincks at (202) 416-7654 or VickieL@pva.org.

For more information on Wheelchair Rugby, contact Katelynn Johnson at (202) 416-7637 or email KatelynnJ@pva.org.

For more information on Sponsorship Packages, please reach out to Brad Coleman at  BradC@pva.org.

Thanks to these businesses and organizations supporting the 2024 PVA Rugby Invitational:

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