Team USA Rugby Heads for World Championships

The 4th IWRF Wheelchair Rugby World Championships start on September 12th in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Team USA is anxious for the competition to begin. Just coming off an extended training camp at the Lakeshore Foundation U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Site in Birmingham, AL, the team has been working hard and wants to bring back the Gold Medal as its reward. Team USA won Gold at Worlds in 1995 and 1998, and the Silver medal in 2002.

World Championships for Wheelchair Rugby are held every 4 years, and feature the top 12 National teams in the world. Anyone who saw the movie "Murderball" will remember that the US team lost the Championship game to Canada in 2002. And while this set up a great story line and rivalry for the award winning film, it left Team USA with an experience that it hopes not to repeat.

In the four years since the last World Championship in 02, much has happened within the sport. Perhaps most impressive is how the level of competition has improved around the globe. No longer are there only two or three teams that have a realistic chance to compete for the Gold. At the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, the then #6 seeded New Zealand team fought their way to the Championship game and won Gold over Canada. And with the Kiwi's hosting this year's Worlds on their home turf, they will be tough to beat. Great Britain, now coached by Joe Soares, has been playing well, and seems to have developed a tight rivalry with Germany. The Australians have found new energy for the sport as well, and could be a serious contender in Christchurch. Don't be surprised if Belgium, Sweden, Denmark or Japan upset someone's game plan either.

The talent competing at the 2006 World Championships will be by far the strongest field of teams assembled to date. As Team USA prepared to depart on its quest, Coach Gumbert said, "Over the past months we have paid close attention to playing all aspects of this game." "I am very confident in this team's ability, and we all look forward to the challenges ahead."

To follow the action at Worlds make sure you come back here to www.quadrugby.com or check out the links below. And don't forget to send Team USA your comments and encouragement as they represent the United States in competition. Go USA!!