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With the countdown to Paris 2024 about to enter its final year, the depth of Paralympics Australia’s wheelchair rugby high performance program will go on show next month in New Zealand.
A month before the Australian Steelers compete for the International Wheelchair Rugby Cup (IWRC) in Paris, Australia’s wheelchair rugby development squad will contest New Zealand’s national championships before backing up to play a two-match series against a WheelBlacks development squad.
The tour presents a valuable opportunity for squad members to stake claims for higher honours, with several key positions in the Australian Steelers’ best line-up still up for grabs ahead of the Paris Paralympic Games beginning on August 28 next year.
In a sure sign that fights for those positions are heating up, the head coach of the Australian wheelchair rugby development squad Jason Lees has unveiled a line-up for the New Zealand tour almost bursting with experience.
Among the 10 athletes selected by Lees and his selection panel, Ben Fawcett (179 appearances), Shae Graham (66), Ella Sabljak (20), Brayden Foxley-Conolly (13) and Robyn Lambird (7) have all represented the Steelers at international level.
Lees, also the Steelers’ assistant coach, said the balance of the touring party was important to get right at this stage of the four-year Paralympic cycle.
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“One of the main purposes of our development squad is to give game minutes at a high level to players who need it,” Lees said.
“Obviously we’ve chosen some experienced players who either missed out on selection for the Asia Oceania Championships last month or didn’t play big minutes there and needed some game time before this Paris competition [for the Steelers].”
“Having those players on this tour can benefit our developing players who don’t have that level of international exposure just yet. It’s a way to create some good experience for everyone and enable the newcomers to learn as much as they can.”
Jayden Jackson and Rubie Gallagher get another chance to impress selectors, having toured with the Australian Development Squad previously, along with South Australian Tai Martin-Page who has been given the captaincy. West Australian Liliana Prucha and Queenslander Beau Vernon will both tour for the first time.
Among the experienced cohort, Fawcett, Graham and Sabljak were part of the Steelers’ 2022 World Championship triumph.
Aussie Steelers: 'champions of the world'
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) October 16, 2022
Now that has a nice ring to it 🙌 #2022WRWC #Vejle2022 #WheelchairRugby@ww_rugby | @Paralympics pic.twitter.com/fuR2r8sVuN
The trio have also been named in the senior team’s lineup for the IWRC beginning in Paris, France on October 18 alongside Foxley-Conolly and Vernon. It will be Vernon’s first appearance for Australia’s top-choice team.
With the New Zealand and France tours giving a range of 2024 hopefuls chances to shine, Lees said he was intrigued to see who can best utilise the opportunities on offer.
The coach also said that with five female athletes selected, an all-female line-up on court in Christchurch would be a momentous occasion for PA’s high performance program.
“What does get me most excited in this role is seeing these newer players coming through and knocking on the door of the top team. Helping them along on their journey has been really rewarding as well,” Lees said.
“An athlete like Liliana is a good example. She is a really exciting player and we feel like she could be a difference-maker in the future depending on a few things. Obviously, she’s still got a lot of work to do, but she is showing signs that she could be a player that makes an impact in the coming years.”
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History made: our AUS #WheelchairRugby Development Squad experienced their first taste of international competition when they travelled across the ditch to compete at the New Zealand National Championships.
— AUS Paralympic Team (@AUSParalympics) September 7, 2022
Find out more: https://t.co/Vb0bQytlt3
📸: Wheel Blacks via Instagram pic.twitter.com/fOdSaiwPxR
The Australian Wheelchair Rugby Development Squad will contest the New Zealand National Championships against Auckland, Canterbury and Waikato from September 1-3 in Christchurch.
They will then do battle with the New Zealand Wheelblacks Development Team in a two-match series on September 5.
Australian Wheelchair Rugby Development Squad – NZL Tour
Brayden Foxley-Conolly – QLD – 3.5
Robyn Lambird – WA – 3.0*
Ella Sabljak – QLD – 2.5*
Shae Graham – VIC – 2.5*
Jayden Jackson – NSW – 2.0
Liliana Prucha – WA – 2.0*
Tai Matin-Page (C) – SA – 1.5
Rubie Gallagher – TAS – 1.0*
Beau Vernon – QLD – TBC
Ben Fawcett – VIC – 0.5
By: Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 22 August 2023
Image: Megumi Masuda
