Wheelchair Rugby

Irish Wheelchair Association is the National Governing Body for Wheelchair Rugby in Ireland.

About Wheelchair Rugby

Wheelchair Rugby is a mixed team sport, played indoors on a court similar to a basketball court, for male and female players.

Each team consists of four players and contact between wheelchairs is permitted and is vital for blocking and holding the opposing team.

The sport has features of rugby, basketball, handball and ice hockey. The object of the game is to carry the ball across the opposing team’s goal line to score a try. Each try is worth one point.

Wheelchair Rugby was invented by a group of quadriplegics in Canada in the 1970’s. It is an invasion and evasion sport with the object being to carry the ball across the opposing team’s try line. It involves full contact between the chairs.

Who can play?

• Male and female players over the age of 15.
• Wheelchair and non-wheelchair users.
• Wheelchair Rugby is open to all with a physical disability but more so for those with the following types of physical disabilities:

1. Amputation
2. Arthropgryposis
3. Cerebral Palsy
4. Muscular Dystrophy
5. Polio/Post Polio Syndrome
6. Spinal Cord Injury
7. Other Neuroglogical Disorders

Where can I play?

There are currently four clubs across Ireland:

• Leinster Wheelchair Rugby Club who train weekly in Vicarstown, Co. Laois.
• Rebel Wheelers Multi-Sport Club who train weekly in Cork City.
• Ulster Barbarians who train weekly in Antrim, Co. Antrim.
• Wicklow Rolling Stones, who train weekly in Greystones, Co. Wicklow.

To join your nearest Wheelchair Rugby club, you can register via the Find Your Club page and our IWA-Sport staff will contact you with more information.

Their is one senior domestic competition held annually, which is the Irish Wheelchair Rugby League. The league is held across 4-5 rounds around the country per season depending on upcoming international competitions. The teams play two games per round.

The 2025 season saw Leinster Wheelchair Rugby Club retain the Irish Wheelchair Rugby League Championship, with Rebel Wheelers Multi-Sport Club finishing second and Ulster Barbarians third.

Classification:

Anyone with a physical disability is welcome to play Wheelchair Rugby in Ireland. 

Wheelchair Rugby classifications range from 0.5 to 3.5. Each team can only have a combined total of eight points on the court at any one time. The game consists of 4 x 8 minute quarters.

International Level:

We currently have one senior team. Our international team competes at major competitions on a regular basis. Most recently, the Irish Wheelchair Rugby team competed at the European Championships Division C in 2023. The squad finished third in Udine, Italy.