The International Wheelchair Rugby Cup kicks off at the Halle Carpentier tomorrow morning. The first ever edition of a competition that is already establishing itself as a key tournament, with the top 8 teams in the WWR rankings taking part.

Les équipes en lice

One year before the Games, the world’s elite will be in Paris. The level promises to be very even, with the world’s best teams, used to competing in the biggest international competitions for many years.

All the information on the teams

World ranking

1st – United States
2nd – Australia
3rd – Japan
4th – Great Britain
5th – Canada
6th – France
7th – Denmark
8th – New Zealand

Le calendrier

Saturday 21 October – Halle Carpentier

09:00 – 3rd pool A – 4th pool B (match 5-8)

11:00 – 3rd pool B vs 4th pool A (match 5-8)

15:00 – 1st Pool A vs 2nd Pool B (semi-final 1)

17:00 – 1st Pool B vs 2nd Pool A (semi-final 2)

Sunday 22 October – Accor Arena

11:00 – Match 7-8

13:00 – Match 5-6

15:30 – Bronze final

17:30 – Closing ceremony

19:00 – Final

20:30 – Awards ceremony

Schedule & results

Tickets

The last tickets for the matches at the Halle Carpentier are still available at the single price of €5 for the whole day. The group matches and semi-finals will be played on the floor of the hall in Paris’s 13th arrondissement.

On the final day, Sunday 22, we head to the Accor Arena! The legendary Paris venue will host the final ranking matches and the grand final at 7pm. Tickets now start at €10.

It’s the perfect opportunity to discover wheelchair rugby with your family or friends, and you’re guaranteed to see 4 matches in one day!

Watch the matches live

Internationally, the entire International Cup will be broadcast on the World Wheelchair Rugby YouTube channel.

The event’s social media

The rugby horizon of 2023 is taking shape and the excitement is growing. On the pitch, the match-ups promise to be of rare intensity. The protagonists of this great spectacle are already known and each of them is preparing its strategy to win the first International Cup in history.

The competition scene

At the top of the list, Australia, with their world champion title, are determined to keep their reputation intact. The Steelers have repeatedly demonstrated their mastery and technique, and they are determined to keep up the momentum.

But with a year to go before the Games, no one can rest on their laurels. The United States and Great Britain are in ambush, respectively number one in the world and current Paralympic champions. They will be hungry for victory and will give any team in their path a hard time.

But keep an eye out for the outsiders! Japan and New Zealand, masters in their own regions and in search of key victories, have already demonstrated that they have more than one trick up their sleeve. Their recent progress makes them serious podium contenders, and it would be no surprise to see them play spoilsport on the Parisian courts.

So the stage is set for an anthology competition. In Paris, in 5 days’ time, you can look forward to wild matches, spectacular action and moments of pure emotion!

The 2023 International Wheelchair Rugby Cup in Paris is just around the corner, highlighting the crucial importance of specialised wheelchairs. The fruit of years of innovation, they represent the perfect fusion of advanced technology and sport. Every detail of the chair is tailored to the unique skills of the player, amplifying their talent and enriching the strategy of the game.

Wheelchair selection

Selection depends on the player’s classification, ranging from 0.5 for the most severe disabilities to 3.5 for less severe disabilities, ensuring fairness according to disability. Generally speaking, 0.5-1.5 players opt for defensive chairs, while 2.0-3.5 players prefer offensive chairs.

Defensive wheelchairs

Offensive wheelchairs

The beauty of this duality lies in the fact that each chair is adapted to the player’s function, adding strategic depth to the game.

To really grasp the scope of the sport, come and see a match live. The link between the athlete and his chair will captivate you. Be ready to go in Paris on 18 October!

The Japanese team has been one of the best for many years, as illustrated by their two bronze medals at the Tokyo Games and last year’s World Championships. Their ambition is clear: to reach the top without denying themselves. Japanese coach, Kotaro Kishi answered our questions.

First of all, how is the team feeling with 15 days left before the tournament?

Kotaro Kishi. The team is more and more motivated for the tournament and there’s a very positive atmosphere in the group. All the players are in good health and there are no injury worries. The team is in good shape and feeling good, so I’m really looking forward to the tournament.

The competition will be held on a very tight schedule. How are you preparing for the competition?

KK. We’ve taken part in competitions with such a tough schedule in the past. So we just have to do what we know how to do, which is to be flexible to adapt so that we can give our best, even in a tight schedule.

We provide mental training and psychological support to help our athletes overcome pressure and tension

In the last two international competitions, you finished 3rd on both occasions. What do you need to do to improve and grab top spot?

KK. Based on our recent results, I understand that we have several important points to consider in order to improve further and aim for victory. First of all, we need to improve the skill level and physical strength of the players. It is essential for each athlete to broaden the precision and range of their skills and aim for higher levels.

Secondly, coordination between the whole team and perfecting tactics are important. Tactics work best when players make instant decisions and play together in sync. To achieve this, we need to keep training and build up match experience. We also focus on the mental aspect. We provide mental training and psychological support to help our athletes overcome pressure and tension so that they can play in a calm and focused state. By combining these elements and maximising our players’ abilities, we intend to improve our team’s ranking.

What are your team’s most important areas for improvement?

KK. This competition is important before the Paralympics, but we still have several international competitions to go. We’re concentrating on this competition, but we’re also aware of the areas we need to improve in preparation for the Paralympics. However, my absolute priority now is to give our best in this tournament.

Finally, what is your team’s number one objective for the Cup?

KK. The team’s number one objective is to always maintain the spirit of being a challenger. We value surpassing ourselves and the challenge more than the rankings. The world of sporting competition is constantly evolving, and even the strongest teams are changing day by day. As a result, we believe it’s important to always have an aspiration and to aim for new heights. Our most important objective is to become a team that continues to grow by always accepting challenges, learning from our mistakes and approaching the next match with a positive frame of mind.

In recent years, Denmark has established a strong position in world wheelchair rugby. They will be in Paris for the International Cup with the ambition of winning the Cup and gaining maximum confidence ahead of the Paris 2024 Games. The head coach of the Danish team, Jason Regier answered our questions.

How have the last few weeks been for the team? Are the players in good shape?

Jason Regier. “The team is feeling really good. The players are ready for the tournament and we are fortunate that we don’t have any injuries at the moment.”

The key for us is playing consistent top rugby every time

At the World Cup, you almost reached the final in front of your home fans. With hindsight, did this result give your group even more strength ahead of this crucial season?

J.R. “It was amazing to play the world championship in front of the home crowd in Denmark. The team knows we can play rugby with anybody in the world. The key for us is playing consistent top rugby every time. There are a lot of top teams that all play at the highest level now.” 

How do you see and analyze your group matches, against opponents you know well? 

J.R. “We know our opponents quite well and they know us. All of the teams can play top high/low lines as well as balance lines. We need to come out with focus and good energy.”  

This will be the last major competition before the Paralympics. What are your team’s most important points for improvement?

J.R. “We might get an opportunity to see most of these teams at Canada cup next year. However, this will be a great chance to see the top eight teams and test ourselves to see if we have made improvements with lines and overall consistency.”  

What’s your main objective for the Cup?  

J.R. “Playing consistent across the different lines!”