Articles

GB to face rivals Australia on C4

11 Apr 2012 16:43 pm

Ryley Batt and Aaron Phipps
Ryley Batt and Aaron Phipps

Great Britain will go head-to-head with their great sporting rivals Australia in the wheelchair rugby test event at the Olympic Park in London.

The London International Invitational Wheelchair Rugby Tournament is an official test event for the 2012 Paralympic Games and will be streamed live on the C4Paralympics website.

The tournament will feature four of the best six teams in the world, with Canada and Sweden joining GB and Australia in the event on 18th and 19th April at the Basketball Arena, which will be the venue for wheelchair rugby at this summer's Games.

Australia are second in the world rankings, behind the USA, and won the silver medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing when they lost to the Americans in the final.

The star attraction of the Australian side is Ryley Batt, who is considered one the best wheelchair rugby players in the world and made his Paralympic debut in 2004 at the age of 15.

Canada finished third in 2008, beating GB in the bronze medal match 47-41, and won silver behind New Zealand at Athens 2004.

Sweden are ranked fourth in the world, ahead of Canada in fifth and sixth-placed GB, but the hosts are hopeful of challenging for a medal at their home Games this summer.

Wheelchair rugby is generally considered one of the fastest and most exciting of the Paralympic sports, with huge hits a key part of the game.

Tickets for the test event were only made available to members of Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, local schools and colleges and local residents, but six of the matches - including GB v Australia and the final, will be shown live on the C4Paralympics website.

WEDNESDAY 18TH APRIL

Session 1

10am - Sweden v Great Britain

12pm - Australia v Canada

Session 2

*4pm - Sweden v Australia

*6pm - Canada v Great Britain

THURSDAY 19th APRIL

Session 3

*10am - Australia v Great Britain

*12pm - Sweden v Canada

Session 4