BOYD KEEN TO CHECKMATE RIVALS AT 2022 WHEELCHAIR RUGBY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Ryan Boyd calls it chess on wheels.

And he says despite the ubiquitous smashing and crashing there is ‘method to the madness’ when he and his fellow wheelchair rugby players take to the court.

“It’s a surprisingly technical game with chair positioning needed two or three steps ahead and the whole psychology of trying to bait your opponents into making mistakes,” Boyd said of the sport originally called Murderball. “A lot of people watching our matches for the first time think it’s all crazy bash and crash, chair metal on chair metal and sparks aplenty with players tipping over and all that, but nothing could be further from the reality. “It’s as mentally challenging as chess and just when you think you know the game, that’s when you start learning,” he said.

The 26-year-old from the northern Gold Coast suburb of Beenleigh is playing in his fourth season with the Brothers Rugby Club after a motocross accident at 19 years of age rendered him a C 4-5 quadriplegic.

“After my accident I couldn’t push my chair out of sight on a dark night, but after three years of building my upper body strength I was ready to give rugby a go,” he said. Boyd says his immediate aspiration is to play in division one with the Queensland Cyclones, which he hopes might happen as soon as this month’s 2022 Wheelchair Rugby National Championship at the Gold Coast’s Carrara Sport and Leisure Centre from 24-26 June.

“We all want to put on a big show and build our sport’s fan base through people in the grandstands and the worldwide live streaming of the matches,” he said.

“The level of competition this year is world class, we have some of the best players in the world in this country, so it’s a good chance for us all to play our hearts out and measure ourselves against some truly quality opposition.

“They’ll all be here on the Gold Coast, lots of Paralympians and international champions, and I can’t wait to get amongst the action,” he said.

Wheelchair Rugby Australia General Manager, Chris Nay, said the championships have found a showpiece venue at Carrara along with the stability of a two-year 2022 and 2023 agreement with the city.

“The Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre proved its credentials when it successfully hosted several key events during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games,” Nay said.

“So, it is the perfect venue to showcase our athletes and deliver an outstanding spectator experience,” he said.

Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said the Nationals bring together the county’s very best athletes in this sport, “for an exciting and intense tournament that is fantastic to watch.”

“We are incredibly proud to be hosting the Wheelchair Rugby Championship for the next two years on the Gold Coast and if last year’s event is anything to go by, it’s one you don’t want to miss.”

The 2022 Wheelchair Rugby National Championship, supported by Major Events Gold Coast, begin on Friday, 24 June 2022, with the bronze and gold medal matches to take place on Sunday, 26 June 2022. Tickets – day tickets and whole event passes - are now available at www.trybooking.com and for further event information please visit www.wheelchairrugby.com.au

ENDS

Further information and media enquiries please contact:

Contact: Chris Nay (General Manager, Wheelchair Rugby Australia)
M: 0405 036 727
chris@wheelchairrugby.com.au

Wayne Hickson (Media Consultant)
M: 0407 028 917
hicksonmedia@gmail.com