A quarter-final showdown against Denmark awaits the Australian Steelers, who remain undefeated at the 2026 World Wheelchair Rugby Championship in Brazil.
The Steelers finished on top of Pool A after convincing victories in their double-header on Friday to conclude the qualifying rounds and now enter the knockout phase of the tournament oozing with confidence.
After wins against Canada, New Zealand and Brazil over the three days prior, Friday was a day the Steelers had circled on their calendar since the schedule was released, knowing that the United States were their biggest threat to reaching top spot before the short-turnaround time to face the Netherlands.
But the Australians, the defending World Champions from 2022, showed once again what it takes to be successful at the highest level.
They trounced the United States 54-44 after scores were locked 26-all at half-time, and then backed up just a few hours later to dismantle Dutch hopes of an upset, winning 60-45.
Photo credit: Wheelchair Rugby Australia / Albin John
Australia’s most capped Steeler Ryley Batt, who has played in four World Championship gold medal matches – including two against the United States – over his glittering career, admitted it was a satisfying victory on Friday against the American on this stage after so many years of intense rivalry.
“We knew it was going to be tough, America has been one of the pinnacle teams since the game was invented back in the ’70s,” Batt said.
“We had some easier games coming into the game against the United States and we didn’t start off very well. We were in a bit of a plateau and didn’t feel like we knew how to play on that level. It took us a quarter and a bit to get into the game, and once we got into the game, we, I guess, started steamrolling [them] and got on top.
Proud of the team, because it’s very big for us. It means an easier quarterfinal for us [against fourth place in Pool B], and then, potentially, an easier semifinal [against lower-ranked qualifiers] if we go to the next level
And while Denmark finished in fourth place in the Pool B, the Australians know all too well not to take them lightly.
At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Denmark orchestrated arguably the greatest upset in the sport’s history by defeating the then two-time defending Paralympic champions in the opening match.
The shock result ultimately proved to be the catalyst that derailed the Steelers’ campaign. They eventually missed a Paralympic medal for the first time in 16 years.
The rivalry has only intensified in the years since.
At the 2022 World Championships in Denmark, the Steelers silenced a raucous Danish crowd by defeating the home team in the pool rounds, before taking sweet revenge by knocking them out of the tournament in a brutal semi-final display.
They met again at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, where the stakes were even higher on the sport’s biggest stage. With both teams needing victory to progress from the pool rounds, the Steelers prevailed 53-49 to shatter Denmark’s hopes for their first Paralympic medal.
The next chapter in this intense rivalry is about to written.
Australia will face Denmark 10pm AEST on Friday 21 August.
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