National League set to fire up as regular 2026 competition begins
Australia’s leading wheelchair rugby athletes return to domestic competition this month, with the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby National League regular season set to begin.
The official rounds open with the Gold Coast Classic from 19 to 21 September, continue at the Sunshine Coast Clash from 23 to 25 October, and conclude with the Finals in Melbourne from 20 to 22 November.
The Gold Coast Recreation Precinct will host the opening round, with Division 1, Division 2 and junior athletes competing across three days. Entry is free for spectators.
Round 2 will be held at Caloundra Indoor Stadium before the season concludes at the State Netball & Hockey Centre in Melbourne.
The 2026 National League features eight teams across two divisions, including new Division 2 sides the Flames and Mavericks, while Victoria’s refreshed teams highlight the state’s growing pathway under Wheelchair Rugby Australia’s management.
Division 1: University of Queensland, Bond University, Sydney University and Protect Thunder.
Division 2: Flames, Sharks, Mavericks and Protect Lightning.
The official rounds follow two development events, the Melbourne Invitational and Sydney Slam, which gave teams valuable match practice and helped build momentum for the 2026 season. The season also sees 10 athletes take part in the competition for their first time, highlighting the strength and growth of the National League.
Wheelchair Rugby Australia CEO Chris Nay said the National League was central to the sport’s growth.
“The National League is critical to the growth of wheelchair rugby in Australia,” Nay said.
“It gives athletes a consistent, high-quality competition environment where they can develop, compete and challenge themselves against the best players in the country.
“The competition is getting stronger and deeper each year, and that growth is vital to building the athletes, teams and pathways we need to keep the sport moving forward.
“A strong National League means a stronger sport, creating more opportunities for athletes and a better platform for clubs and teams to grow.”
The 2026 season also represents a significant opportunity for Queensland, with two of the three National League rounds to be held in the state.
Ryan Boyd, Queensland-based athlete and coach of the new Division 2 team, the Flames, said having the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast rounds on the calendar was a major opportunity to showcase the sport to local audiences.
“It’s a massive opportunity for wheelchair rugby in Queensland to have two National League rounds this year,” Boyd said.
“The sport is growing quickly here, the quality of our athletes is getting stronger, and you can feel the momentum building around the game.
“For the players, competing in front of a home crowd at the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast makes these rounds even more exciting. But more importantly, it gives us a chance to put wheelchair rugby in front of new audiences and show people exactly what this sport is about. It’s fast, physical, competitive and seriously good to watch.
“Having two rounds in Queensland is a real statement about where the sport is heading, and I think we’re going to see some great competition.”
The 2026 National League begins with unfinished business after a fiercely contested 2025 season.
University of Queensland Red Heavies enter the season as defending Division 1 champions after defeating Bond University 57 to 46 in last year’s final.
Australian Steelers stars again led the league, with Chris Bond named Division 1 MVP and Emilie Miller, Jayden Jackson and Andrew Holloway claiming best-pointer honours in 2025. In Division 2, Ben Chalker was named MVP, with Sean Senbel-Lynch, Zak Robertson and Alby Everett also recognised.
With eight teams across two divisions, the 2026 season gives established stars, emerging players and future Steelers another high-level stage to compete.
The Gold Coast Classic opens the race for National League honours on 19 September, before the competition moves to the Sunshine Coast and culminates in Melbourne in November.
2026 National League dates
Round 1 – Gold Coast Classic: 19 to 21 September, Gold Coast Recreation Precinct
Round 2 – Sunshine Coast Clash: 23 to 25 October, Caloundra Indoor Stadium
Round 3 – The Finals: 20 to 22 November, State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne
All three rounds are free for spectators, with final match schedules to be confirmed closer to each event. Check Wheelchair Rugby Australia’s social media pages for the latest results and information.
Team lists
Please note: Some athletes may only be competing at certain league rounds, and lists are subject to change.
Division 1
University of Queensland
Coach: Chris Bond
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Chris Bond | 3.5 | Joshua Nicholson | 2.0 |
| Cameron Whittaker | 2.0 |
| Tai Martin-Page | 1.5 | Dan Horton | 1.5 |
| Beau Vernon | 1.0 | Damien Mortaud | 0.5 |
Bond University
Coach: Ben Newton
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Brayden Foxley-Conolly | 3.5 | Ella Sabljak | 2.5F |
| Conor Tweedy | 2.5 |
| Rio Kovac | 2.5 | Lilliana Prucha | 2.0F |
| Emilie Miller | 0.5F | Michael Ozanne | 0.5 |
Sydney University
Coach: Richard Voris
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Andrew Holloway | 3.5 | Cooper Blackwood | 3.0 |
| Jayden Jackson | 2.0 |
| Andrew Edmondson | 2.0 | Jake Howe | 1.0 |
| Will Taheny | 0.5 |
Protect Victoria Thunder
Coach: Jason Lees
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Shin Shimakawa | 3.0 | Jayden Warn | 3.0 |
| Josh Hose | 3.0 |
| Robyn Lambird | 3.0F | Shae Graham | 2.5F |
| Rubie Gallagher | 0.5F | Cam Wales | 0.5 |
| James McQuillan | 0.5 |
Division 2
Flames
Coach: Ryan Boyd
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Nathan Handley | 3.5 | Mitch Duncan | 2.5 |
| Scott Vitale | 2.0 |
| Matthew Thompson | 2.0 | Natascha Scott | 2.0F |
| Hamish Cook | 1.5 | Sean Senbel-Lynch | 1.0 |
| Ryan Boyd | 0.5 |
Sharks
Coach: Andy Phillips
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Natalie Millar | 3.5F | Alby Everett | 3.0 |
| Rick de Kreij | 2.5 |
| Caleb Crowden | 2.0 | Dylan Streller | 2.0 |
| Kaitlyn Schurmann | 2.0F | Armaan Dhillon | 0.5 |
| Gordon Broome | 0.5 |
Mavericks
Coach: Richard Voris
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Rhiannon Bellette | 3.5F | Samuel Parker | 3.0 |
| Jaxon Vanderpoel | 3.0 |
| Ben Leaudais | 2.0 | Peter Campbell-Rogers | 1.5 |
| Hayden Brown | 1.5 | Richard Voris | 1.5 |
| Tye Angland | 0.5 |
Protect Victoria Lightning
Coach: Shane Brand
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| Jay Dohnt | 3.5 | Mark Stephenson | 3.0 |
| Max Prinz | 3.0 |
| Ben Owens | 3.0 | Jet Johnson | 2.5 |
| Kadir Faki | 2.0 | Shane Brand | 1.5 |
| Jacob Walsh | 1.5 |
| Wyatt Bignell | 0.5 |
Thank you to our Wheelchair Rugby National League event partners for making this competition possible:
Major National League Partners: Lite n' Easy, Posca Hydrate, The Rugby Club Foundation
Partners: Intersection, etrainu, Australian Sports Commission
Rugby Club partners: Bond University, University of Queensland
State partners: Suncorp, Protect, At Home Care, QAS
For more information, or access to imagery and interviews, contact:
Emily Newton (Manager – Media & Marketing)
emily@wheelchairrugby.com.au
0481 121 440