Wheelchair Rugby Victoria

For many years, Protect has been a valued supporter of wheelchair rugby, helping strengthen the sport from the grassroots through to high performance.

As the naming rights partner of the Protect Victorian Thunder and a proud sponsor of the Wheelchair Rugby Victoria program, Protect continues to invest in opportunities for athletes to compete, develop and thrive. Their long-standing commitment to the Victorian wheelchair rugby community has played an important role in the continued growth of our sport.

At the 2026 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge, our athletes had their jersey's presented to them by Protect CEO Michael Connolly, who proudly cheered on the team across the competition, encouraging us to take home the National Championship silver medal.

Thank you, Protect, for your ongoing support of wheelchair rugby and for your commitment to helping build a stronger future for the game across Victoria and Australia.

Photos with thanks to Joep Buijs Photography and B.Rad Sports Photography.

Willeke is an integral part of Wheelchair Rugby Victoria 🙌

Initially getting involved with wheelchair rugby through her son, Willeke has become a pillar of the community who strives to grow our sport at grassroots and social levels.

"I would like the sport to grow and thrive so that it can be a great place and community for all these amazing athletes and fabulous people to come together. For many players this is more than participating in sport. For others, this is a unique place to fully participate in a competitive sport, in a fantastic game. And for others again it's an opportunity to compete in wheelchair rugby at the highest level, representing your country."

🔗 Read more of what Willeke shared with us on our website: https://www.wheelchairrugby.com.au/news/2026/5/20/three-cheers-for-the-people-behind-the-whistle-wheels-and-warm-welcomes

| Australian Sports Commission

The Melbourne Invitational is almost here!

We're looking back on some of last year's photos as we countdown the days to the beginning of our Wheelchair Ruby National League Development Round.

In Melbourne? Come see the action!
📍 Location: Caroline Springs Leisure Centre, Melbourne, Victoria
📅 Dates: Friday 27 February – Sunday 1 March 2026
🕘 Time: 9:30am to 5pm Friday and Saturday, and 9am to 12pm Sunday
🎟️ Tickets: Free entry for spectators

Keep an eye on our pages for our team lists and event schedule to be shared next week!

Photos from the 2025 Melbourne Invitational by Morden Productions.

Read more: https://www.wheelchairrugby.com.au/news/2026/2/17/wheelchair-rugby-national-league-kicks-off-2026-season-with-expanded-melbourne-development-rounds

🎟️🎟️🎟️ WRWC 2026 TICKETS ON SALE 🎟️🎟️🎟️

More teams and information will be shared in the coming weeks, so keep your eyes on WRA's pages for the latest updates.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2026 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge, returning to Adelaide from 23 to 26 April.

This year’s event marks a major milestone, with wheelchair rugby powerhouses USA and Great Britain confirmed to compete at the World Challenge for the first time, facing the Australian Steelers as all three teams prepare for the World Championships later in the year. More teams to be announced soon!

The four-day event will feature elite international competition, prime-time Steelers sessions, the Wheelchair Rugby National Championship, and the return of the Juniors Division.

🎟️ Tickets available now via www.wheelchairrugby.com.au/tickets

Santos Ltd | South Australian Tourism Commission | Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby | USA Wheelchair Rugby

The 2026 season for Wheelchair Rugby Victoria begins on Monday 19 January.

Join us for our official launch event to mark the milestone and hear directly from Wheelchair Rugby Australia CEO Chris Nay.

We hope to see you there!

It's the Sunshine Coast Clash this weekend, and we are cheering on the Victorian-based teams Box Hill Rugby Union Football Club and MRUFC Unicorns competing in Division 2.

Good luck also to our Victorian athletes playing across different teams 👏

Head to Wheelchair Rugby Australia for the full team lists.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Wheelchair rugby in Victoria is now under the management of Wheelchair Rugby Australia (WRA).

In partnership with Disability Sport and Recreation (DSR), this strategic move marks an exciting new chapter for wheelchair rugby in Victoria and reflects the continued growth and evolution of wheelchair rugby in Australia, positioning the sport in Victoria under a dedicated, single-sport organisation to support athlete development and increase opportunities at all levels.

WRA thanks DSR for their longstanding support and the invaluable contributions they’ve made in managing the wheelchair rugby program in Victoria to date and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with DSR to promote participation and grow the sport at the community level.

Read more in the joint media release: https://www.wheelchairrugby.com.au/news/2025/8/14/wheelchair-rugby-program-in-victoria-moves-from-disability-sport-and-recreation-to-wheelchair-rugby-australia

🥉 Bronze for the Victorian Protect Thunder!

Congratulations to the team on taking out third place at the Wheelchair Rugby National Championships, part of the 2025 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge, hosted by Wheelchair Rugby Australia.

A huge thank you to the incredible athletes, coaches and our dedicated support team who made this achievement possible!

Thank you to Protect for your ongoing support of the Victorian Protect Thunder team

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