National Wheelchair Rugby Championship: Players to watch, teams and stars in Sydney

Superstars will join cross-coders, a relative of a famous rugby family, an alpine skier and the youngest coach in the world in their sport at a major competition in Sydney from Friday.

Ryley Batt playing for Australia at the last Paralympic Games in Tokyo.

What do an alpine skier, a world champion cyclist, a marathoner and two superstars of rugby have in common? Normally not much.

But from Friday they will have plenty as teammates in two teams of NSW and ACT athletes battling Victoria and Queensland in a major wheelchair rugby competition.

Round two of the National Wheelchair Rugby Championship runs from Friday to Sunday with top NSW athletes spread across the Buildcorp Sydney University and ACT Tuggeranong Vikings teams.

Sydney Uni will also boast the youngest ever wheelchair rugby coach in 11-year-old Beau Cosgrove from Taralga who has been appointed assistant coach under Glen Lebeau.

Beau’s dream is to play wheelchair rugby when older and ride bulls.

Ryley batt is considered one of the best players in the world.

“I haven’t played under coach Beau but I understand he’s a hard task master,” said Sydney Uni captain and Paralympic star Ryley Batt.

Mick Garnett, CEO of Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT, said the event boasts some of the best - and most interesting - players in the sport.

“It’s a round robin comp played between six teams who each play five games over the weekend,’’ he said.

The event is free with spectators welcome.

Wheelchair Sports NSW/ACT’s head of sport David Kranz has helped with a guide to the player to watch below.

Australian wheelchair rugby team captain Ryley Batt (left) presenting Andrew Edmondson with a Steelers jersey in 2018.

PLAYERS TO WATCH IN NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONSHIPS

RYLEY BATT, SYDNEY UNI

One of the biggest names in the sport and an Australian sporting legend, Batt is returning to competition at the event in Sydney after a four month lay-off.

The multiple Paralympian and Games gold medallist is captaining a Sydney Uni team chasing success on home soil.

Batt hails from Port Macquarie and will be the star of the show in Sydney.

Andrew Edmondson was part of the gold medal winning Aussie Steelers in Rio.

ANDREW EDMONDSON, TUGGERANONG VIKINGS

The Tuggeranong Vikings will be lead into action by other superstar of wheelchair rugby in Andrew Edmondson from Port Macquarie.

The Paralympic champion and captain of the Australian Wheelchair Rugby team is also regarded as the best two point player in the world.

He is also a physical and entertaining player.

EMILIE MILLER, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

A new face in the sport who brings years of experience as an elite athlete to the game. Miller has won multiple road cycling titles as a paracyclist and is considered an up-and-coming star of the game.

She has been playing for less than a year but has already made an Australian team.

A defender from Bathurst.

Emilie Miller from her Facebook page. .

ELIZA STANKOVIC-MOWLE, TUGGERANONG VIKINGS

A multiple Paralympian who brings years of experience as a top athlete to the game.

This mother-of-three from the ACT raced across various distances on the track in Tokyo - 8th in the 100m, 7th in the 400m and 13th in the marathon - and has over the years won multiple Oz Day 10km titles.

This will be her first major wheelchair rugby event.

Madison de Rozario (left) Eliza Ault-Connell and Angela Ballard of Australia in action during the Women's T54 1500m at the last Commonwealth Games.

JAKE FIELD, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

A relative of rugby union’s famous Ella family, Field is a two-pointer who has been around wheelchair rugby for a number of years.

He played for the NSW Gladiators last year and hails from Old Toongabbie.

JOSH HANLON, TUGGERANONG VIKINGS

Another cross-coders who has come across from alpine skiing - a sport he contested at the Winter Paralympics for Australia.

The 24-year-old is considered a future star of wheelchair rugby and on course to compete at both summer and winter games.

The young gun hails from Weethalle in the Central West.

JAYDEN JACKSON, SYDNEY UNIVERSITY

A mid-pointer who is relatively new to wheelchair basketball.

Jacskon has been playing for less than a year but has already turned heads and made an Australian team.

Hails from Woongarrah on the Central Coast.

RICHARD VORIS, TUGGERANONG VIKINGS

Richard Voris was a member of the Australian Steelers team which played at the last Paralympics in Tokyo. Voris is from Rhodes, in Sydney.

TEAMS IN THE NATIONAL WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONSHIPS

Buildcorp Sydney University RC

ACT Tuggeranong Vikings

University of Queensland RC

Melbourne University RC

Brothers RUFC

Box Hill RUFC

Uni of Queensland currently leads the pointscore from Melbourne University, the Tuggeranong Vikings, Brothers, Sydney Uni and Box Hill.

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Originally published as National Wheelchair Rugby Championship: Players to watch, teams and stars in Sydney