Sydney Slam recap: Kevin Betts Stadium hosts weekend of key court time and growth
The Wheelchair Rugby National League Sydney Slam development round took place over the weekend at Kevin Betts Stadium, delivered in partnership with Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT.
Held across three days (Friday 27 to Sunday 29 March), the round placed a clear emphasis on development, providing athletes with valuable minutes on court in a structured, competitive environment. For each match, team lists changed, forcing players and coaches alike to utilise the opportunity to rotate line-ups and explore combinations, ensuring both emerging and experienced athletes accessed meaningful court time.
Despite wet conditions impacting the opening day, the event maintained strong momentum throughout the weekend. Athletes continued to build confidence as games went on, applying learnings from each match to strengthen on-court communication and cohesion. By Sunday, the sun was shining bright as we rounded out a very successful weekend for all participants.
Event photos by Karen Watson
The Sydney Slam plays an important role within the 2026 National League season, supporting the ongoing growth of the athlete pathway. For developing players, the round provided the chance to step into greater responsibility, while more established athletes were able to reinforce consistency and showcase leadership within their teams.
With a focus on building depth across the program, this weekend along with the Melbourne Invitational development round the month prior, highlighted the value of events like these as part of the wider National League in preparing athletes for future opportunities.
The Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT award winners from the 2026 Sydney Slam were:
Judy Simpson Emerging Player Award – Jaxon Vanderpoel
Best Low Pointer – Dane Kinder
Best Mid Pointer – Jet Johnson
Best High Pointer – Ben Owens
Thank you to all our Sydney Slam National League partners, especially Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT, in delivering an incredibly successful event. Special thanks also go to Lite n’ Easy, Posca Hydrate and the Rugby Club Foundation.
More photos from the weekend are available, get in touch with our team if you would like access.
The next live wheelchair rugby taking place in Australia is the 2026 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge in Adelaide next month. See our Steelers will take the court against some of the world’s best – tickets are on sale now!