2022 Wheelchair Rugby World Championship Review

Denmark played host to the tournament between the 10 October and 16 October, where Australia emerged victorious to become the world champions.

Over the week, we saw some entertaining matches, some great stories, and ultimately a winner making this go down as one of the most memorable tournaments in its history.

Australia’s success

Prior to the tournament, the Aussies’ had already claimed a world championship crown in 2014 in Odense, Denmark and were going into this edition as one of the favourites along with the USA and Japan.

They started as they meant to go on, beating Canada and Brazil on the opening day - the game with the Canadians being much closer than the Brazilians as they edged them 55-53, whilst they beat the South Americans 57-36.

Victory against the hosts Denmark and then Colombia followed, but hit a stumbling block in the form of Japan, losing 54-50, however they had qualified for the knockout rounds along with Japan, Canada, and Denmark from Group B.

Meanwhile from Group A; France, USA, Great Britain, and New Zealand qualified.

Brad Dubberly’s side swept Britain aside 54-45, although the host nation nearly had them eliminated in the semi-final as Denmark pushed them 56-55 but clever game management in the last eight minutes saw them keep their advantage to reach the final against their old rivals, the USA.

A rivalry renewed, these two have faced off at three Paralympic Games prior to the tournament and have always closely contested each other, however, it was the Australian Steelers who took advantage and managed to clinch a victory over the USA to clinch their second ever gold medal in the championships.

The gold medal match in Court 1 finished 58-55 to Australia, the USA are the most successful side in the championships history with four gold medals, although if Australia carry on in future tournaments the way they have done, they could equal or even better their record.

Reigning Champions break local hearts for Bronze

The 2018 winners were going into this as the favourites, they beat Australia by one point in Sydney then but four years on they looked set to go back-to-back as they topped their group and beat the Aussies in the process.

But they came up against a USA side who had to settle for bronze in the last two editions and that willingness to make up for their lack of gold is what saw Joe Delagrave’s side edge Japan 57-52 in the semi-final.

Up next was Denmark who had shown much quality throughout the tournament to warrant reaching the final and they gave everything in this game to try and achieve bronze.

It was only enough for a fourth place for the hosts, but the Danish team can look to be proud of themselves as they managed to unite the city to come together in the name of wheelchair rugby.

Unfortunately for them, they lost 61-57 in a tight affair with the Japan team. Kevin Orr’s Japan side went into halftime with a four-try advantage, but wouldn’t give it up despite fightback from the Danish who were fighting for their country’s pride.

Denmark captain Leon Jorgenson blamed the defeat on the slow start, but despite that the home nation gave their sell-out home crowd a lot to be proud of.

The ‘highest level’ and sell out crowds

It has become evident during the week that the popularity of wheelchair rugby is greatly improving.

The tournament organisers described on their website that the level of standard for wheelchair rugby is at the highest level it has been at in the game’s history.

The Danish team brought sell out crowds and a level of support to the game which has been unmatched by any tournament prior to Vejle hosting it which goes to show that the demand is there.

With Vejle hosting other sporting events during the summer including the Departing Tour De France, the world championships have only helped it be on the map even more which has prompted the CEO of Sport Event Denmark to say Denmark is “ready” for the world of sport as he looks to organise more sport and parasport events in the near future.

The profile for wheelchair rugby and the personnel within the sport has truly been raised, it was a massive success off the court as well as on it and with the Paralympics coming in 2024, the hype around the sport will be even greater than it has ever been.