Originally called “Murderball” due to its aggressive nature, wheelchair rugby is a fast-paced, full-contact Paralympic sport developed in the 1970s for athletes with tetraplegia. The rules combine elements of rugby, basketball and handball. Collisions between custom-built rugby wheelchairs are a key part of the game, as athletes in teams of four carry a round ball across the opposing team’s try line. Athletes are assigned a ranking value, which depends on their level of competitive performance. A rating of 0.5 means that the player is at the lowest functional level, at 3.5, which is the highest level of functional ability.
The River City Rumble is part of USWRA Low Point Rugby’s inaugural season. Low Point Rugby is specifically designed for players rated 1.5 or below, with an on-pitch total not exceeding 3.5 points. This version of the sport allows athletes with a lower competitive function, who normally compete in a defensive role, the opportunity to handle the ball, work in an attacking role, and score tries against other low-scoring teams.
Established in 2019, the Sportable Possums wheelchair rugby team trains year-round in Richmond, VA. The Possums compete in tournaments against other wheelchair rugby teams from around the country as members of the USA Wheelchair Rugby Association.
The local team, the Zarigüeyas Sportable went 1-4
The results below.
1st – TIRR Texans
2nd – World War Warriors
3rd – Grand Rapids Thunder
