Steelers set for Bangkok battle at the 2025 Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships
The Australian Steelers are heading to Bangkok ahead of the 2025 Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championship, taking place from 20 to 24 November at the Centara Life Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre, Chaeng Watthana.
Australia joins the region’s top wheelchair rugby nations – Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia and hosts Thailand – all vying for a top-two finish to secure direct qualification to the 2026 World Wheelchair Rugby Championship in Brazil.
After falling to Japan in the gold medal match at the 2023 Asia-Oceania Championship, the Steelers will arrive in Bangkok determined to reclaim their regional title and lock in their 2026 World Championship place.
Head Coach Brad Dubberley said the group has been preparing with intent and focus.
“It’s been a busy period lately for our athletes, we’ve had a couple of camps including one in Darwin to prepare for Thailand, we’ve got a crew up in Prague right now. Two of those athletes will come straight from that competition to join the Steelers in Bangkok,” he said.
“We’re currently ranked world number two, and Japan is number one. We know each other’s games well. It’s going to be a fierce competition. We’re also keeping close eyes on our other opponents. Korea and New Zealand have both had strong competitions lately and shouldn’t be underestimated.”
A late change to the Steelers’ line-up sees Ryley Batt return to representing Australia, after a teammate’s injury forced a last-minute reshuffle. Batt had been preparing to make his competitive comeback with the Miners development squad at Rugbymania in Prague but will now reunite with the Steelers in Thailand.
Assistant Coach Jason Lees, who also works closely with the Miners, said Batt’s inclusion brings both experience and energy, and both teams remain strong and ready to compete.
“Changing our line-ups this close to competition wasn’t ideal, but it was necessary after an unexpected injury to one of our athletes. Our priority is always athlete wellbeing, and we’ve acted quickly to ensure both teams are well supported,” he said.
“This kind of challenge is part of sport, and we’re fortunate and proud to have such a strong pool of talented players who can rise to the challenge when needed. We’re confident the Miners will continue to represent Australia with pride at Rugbymania, and that the Steelers are in the best position they can be for this qualification tournament in Thailand.”
Dubberley agreed and said that with so much at stake for the Steelers in their quest to qualify for Worlds, the team needs to be prepared for anything.
“We’ve learned in the past how crucial depth and coverage are at tournaments like this,” he said.
“We have to qualify for Worlds next year, and we have to look after our athletes. We’re ensuring we head to Thailand with the best chance of success.”
“We’re also working hard on controlling turnovers and refining our game style – that’s the same focus for our group competing in Prague. The goal for everyone is clear: play and perform with control.”
Australian Steelers Team List – Asia-Oceania Championship 2025
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Chris Bond | 3.5 |
| Brayden Foxley-Conolly | 3.5 |
| Ryley Batt | 3.5 |
| Cooper Blackwood | 3.0 |
| Shae Graham | 2.5F |
| Andrew Edmondson | 2.0 |
| Josh Nicholson | 2.0 |
| Lilliana Prucha | 2.0F |
| Beau Vernon | 1.0 |
| James McQuillan | 0.5 |
| Michael Ozanne | 0.5 |
| Emilie Miller | 0.5F |
Team Staff: Brad Dubberley (Head Coach), Jason Lees (Assistant Coach), Sam Allan (Team Manager), Lewis Quinn (Performance Analyst), Greg Smith (Strength and Conditioning), Brooke Cranney (Physiotherapist), Blair Thompson (Mechanic) Rachel Lynch (Nurse), Suzi Bond (Personal Carer).
Australian Steelers scheduled match times
| Versus | Local Indochina Time | Australian Eastern Daylight Time |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Thursday, 20 November, 12:00 | Thursday, 20 November, 16:00 |
| Korea | Friday, 21 November, 10:30 | Friday, 21 November, 14:30 |
| Malaysia | Saturday, 22 November, 16:30 | Saturday, 22 November, 20:30 |
| Thailand | Sunday, 23 November, 10:30 | Sunday, 23 November, 14:30 |
| Japan | Monday, 24 November, 14:45 | Monday, 24 November, 18:45 |
The Steelers enter the tournament on the back of a strong year, highlighted by victory at the home Test Match against Great Britain in September, and taking the silver at the inaugural Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge earlier this year.
For Australia, the immediate objective is to secure a World Championship qualification; anything else sends the team down a more precarious repechage route in 2026.
Fans can follow the Steelers journey via the Wheelchair Rugby Australia (WRA) social media channels. A live stream of the competition is expected to be set up and will be shared on WRA’s pages when it is available. For more information, visit World Wheelchair Rugby’s Facebook page.
Key event details:
📍 2025 WWR Asia-Oceania Championship
📅 20 to 24 November, 2025
🏟️ Centara Life Government Complex Hotel & Convention Centre, Bangkok, Thailand
🇦🇺 Competing nations: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand
🎟️ Top two teams qualify for the 2026 World Wheelchair Rugby Championship to be held in Brazil
For more information and media enquiries, please contact:
Emily Newton
Manager – Media & Marketing
emily@wheelchairrugby.com.au
0481 121 440