Queenslanders Cameron Carr and Ryan Scott have been named co-captains of the Australian wheelchair rugby team announced today by the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC), ahead of next month’s World Championships in Canada.

Carr and Scott will lead the Australian Steelers to Vancouver with two clear objectives - World Championship success and revenge for their loss in the gold medal match at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.

Currently ranked two in the world, the nine-strong Australian team features six members who competed in Beijing, and has one change to the squad that claimed victory at the Canada Cup in June – the major lead-up event for the World Championships.

Steelers head coach Brad Dubberley said this team gives Australia its best ever chance of securing its first World Championship in the sport otherwise known as Murderball. The Steelers have been trying to claim the mantle since 1995.

And Dubberley has seen his share of quality Australian outfits in that time, having featured in three World Championships and two Paralympic Games as a player from 2000-06, and one Paralympics as a coach in 2008.

Before assuming the head coaching duties, Dubberley won bronze at the 2002 World Championships, and silver at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics.

 “Without wanting to disrespect the teams that have gone before us, in my mind this is the best team Australia has ever assembled for a World Championships,” Dubberley, who coached the Steelers to silver in Beijing, said.

“It feels like we’re on the verge of something special, and the whole team is very excited about what lies ahead. But we know there is a massive job to do.

“If we don’t play at our best in every game, there is every chance that we could return home empty-handed and very disappointed.”

Firmly in the Australians’ way will be the USA, the world number one team and reigning World and Paralympic champions.

The two bitter rivals have met five times since their fierce Paralympic gold medal clash in Beijing with the Americans holding a 4-1 advantage.

Tournament hosts Canada, arch-rivals New Zealand and Great Britain will also be among the favourites to feature in the medal rounds while Japan, Germany and Sweden are also more than capable of causing headaches on their given days.

“The Americans are deservedly the favourites, but they are certainly not unbeatable,” Dubberley said.

“This is our chance to set the record straight and prove to everyone that we are the best in the world.”

The Wheelchair Rugby World Championships in Vancouver, Canada, takes place from September 21-26.
 

Australian Steelers  (click each name to read their profile)

2   Naz Erdem        (VIC)   
3   Ryley Batt         (NSW)
4   Josh Hose         (VIC)               
7   Jason Lees        (VIC)               
8   Bryce Alman      (VIC)             
11 Ryan Scott         (QLD)  Co-Captain
12 Steve Porter       (SA)    
13 Cameron Carr    (QLD)  Co-Captain
15 Andrew Harrison (VIC)

By Tim Mannion
Posted 25/08/2010