Victoria Protect Cup Season Guide 27 February - 20 May, 2017 Welcome to the 2017 Victoria Protect Wheelchair Rugby Cup

Thank you for being part of the fantastic sport of wheelchair rugby. Disability Sport & Recreation (DSR), Victoria’s health-promoting peak body for the disability sport and recreation sector, is the governing body for wheelchair rugby in Victoria. For more than 35 years, we have coordinated programs at a development, state and national level to provide a pathway for people to progress as far as they wish in the sport.

In late June 2016, we began discussions with Victorian Rugby Union (VRU), and we are pleased to announce a memorandum of understanding has been signed between DSR and the VRU. This demonstrates VRU’s commitment to inclusion in sport and is a wonderful opportunity for wheelchair rugby to be aligned with a larger organisation to build its profile and support.

For the first time in the history of Victorian wheelchair rugby, the teams in the Cup are aligned with four of the top rugby union clubs in Melbourne - Box Hill, Harlequins, Power House and Unicorns - wearing the same team colours as their rugby counterparts. Thanks to the VRU and the clubs for their vision and passion to make wheelchair rugby part of their rugby family.

We would also like to thank the Victorian State Government for its contribution to the sport and Protect, as the major supporter and naming rights sponsor for wheelchair rugby.

To the volunteers and fans who make it possible for the players to get on court, and whose love of the game makes each competition so memorable: without you, there would be no sport.

Finally, to the players: thank you for continuing to demonstrate that disability is no barrier to a positive life through sport.

Richard Amon CEO - Disability Sport & Recreation What is Wheelchair Rugby?

Wheelchair rugby is a fast paced, tactical game for people with a physical disability that affects at least three of their limbs. Since its inclusion to the in 2000, wheelchair rugby’s popularity has taken off worldwide. Australia is currently ranked no.1 in the world by the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation and Victoria proudly fielded seven of the 12 players who won gold at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games. Played on a hardwood basketball court over four 8 minute quarters, two teams battle it out using their specially designed wheelchairs to crash, block and trap their opponents in an attempt to stop them from scoring a goal, which is achieved when a player crosses the opposition’s goal line with possession of the ball. Despite its intensity, wheelchair rugby is a family friendly and accessible sport that both men and women can play. The classification system allows players with a wide range of functionality to compete on a level playing field. Exciting for both players and spectators alike, it incorporates elements of several sports including ice hockey style checking, the ball movement of basketball, the scoring of rugby and the use of a volleyball. For more information on classification and the basic rules of the game, turn to the back of this guide. 2017 Season 1 Wheelchair Rugby Teams

Box Hill No. Player Class Wheelchair Rugby 1 Beau Vernon 2 2 Kadir Faki 2 3 Josh Hose 3 4 1 5 Lachie O’Brien 0.5 6 Tomas Klein 3.5 7 Antonio Vecchio (C) 2

Harlequin No. Player Class Wheelchair Rugby 1 Jason Ellerey (C) 2 2 Anthony Gray 0.5 3 Shane Brand 1.5 6 Matt Lewis 3.5 8 William Taylor 2 9 James Leonard 2.5 2017 Season 1 Wheelchair Rugby Teams

Power House No. Player Class Wheelchair Rugby 5 Christian Brackley 0.5 6 Andrew Harrison (C) 2 7 2 8 Matt Ingram 2 9 Jack Watson 3 10 Brad Dubberley 3

Unicorns No. Player Class Wheelchair Rugby 1 Sean Corcoran 0.5 2 Bryce Alman 2 4 Jayden Warn 3 5 Shae Graham 2.5* 6 (C) 0.5 7 Paul Angel 3.5

*Female player. Team receives an additional 0.5 allocation on court. 2017 Protect Victoria Wheelchair Rugby Cup Season 1 Fixture Date Time Team 1 Team 2 Location

7pm Box Hill VS Harlequins Monday Aqualink 27 February Box Hill 8pm Power House VS Unicorns

7pm Harlequins VS Power House Monday Aqualink 6 March Box Hill 8pm Unicorns VS Box Hill

7pm Power House VS Box Hill Monday Aqualink 20 March Box Hill 8pm Unicorns VS Harlequins

7pm Unicorns VS Power House Monday Aqualink 27 March Box Hill 8pm Harlequins VS Box Hill

7pm Box Hill VS Unicorns Monday Aqualink 3 April Box Hill 8pm Power House VS Harlequins

7pm Power House VS Box Hill Royal Talbot Wednesday Rehabilitation 12 April Centre, Kew 8pm Harlequins VS Unicorns

7pm Unicorns VS Power House Monday Aqualink 24 April Box Hill 8pm Harlequins VS Box Hill

7pm Harlequins VS Power House Monday Aqualink 8 May Box Hill 8pm Unicorns VS Box Hill

7pm Unicorns VS Harlequins Monday Aqualink 15 May Box Hill 8pm Power House VS Box Hill

10.30am (3rd) VS (4th) Finals Aqualink Saturday Box Hill 20 May 11.30am (1st) VS (2nd) Date Time Team 1 Team 2 Location

7pm Box Hill VS Harlequins Monday Aqualink 27 February Box Hill 8pm Power House VS Unicorns

7pm Harlequins VS Power House Monday Aqualink 6 March Box Hill 8pm Unicorns VS Box Hill

7pm Power House VS Box Hill Monday Aqualink 20 March Box Hill 8pm Unicorns VS Harlequins

7pm Unicorns VS Power House Monday Aqualink 27 March Box Hill 8pm Harlequins VS Box Hill

7pm Box Hill VS Unicorns Monday Aqualink 3 April Box Hill 8pm Power House VS Harlequins

7pm Power House VS Box Hill Royal Talbot Wednesday Rehabilitation 12 April Centre, Kew 8pm Harlequins VS Unicorns

7pm Unicorns VS Power House Monday Aqualink 24 April Box Hill 8pm Harlequins VS Box Hill

7pm Harlequins VS Power House Monday Aqualink 8 May Box Hill 8pm Unicorns VS Box Hill

7pm Unicorns VS Harlequins Monday Aqualink 15 May Box Hill 8pm Power House VS Box Hill

10.30am (3rd) VS (4th) Finals Aqualink Saturday Box Hill 20 May 11.30am (1st) VS (2nd) 2017 Season 1 Wheelchair Rugby Captains’ Profiles

Captain: Andrew Harrison Team: Power House Date of birth: 7 June, 1987 Classification: 2.0 Picking up Wheelchair rugby in 2005, Andrew was selected for the Victorian state side in 2007. The same year, he was named rookie of the year. He is now a dual gold medal Paralympian, taking home the top prize at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

Captain: Jason Ellery Team: Harlequins Date of birth: 30 May, 1986 Classification: 2.0 After a snowboarding accident in 2011 left Jason in a wheelchair, he took up wheelchair rugby as part of his rehab and hasn’t looked back. Debuting for the Steelers in 2013, Jason was a part of the Australian team that won its first world championship gold medal at the 2014 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships in Denmark. 2017 Season 1 Wheelchair Rugby Captains’ Profiles

Captain: Antonio Vecchio Team: Box Hill Date of birth: 26 August, 1985 Classification: 2.0 Taking up the sport in 2006, it didn’t take long for Antonio to grab the Victorian selectors’ eyes, earning a spot in the state squad in 2007. The next step for Antonio was the green and gold which he donned for the first time in 2010.

Captain: Nazim Erdem Team: Unicorns Date of birth: 1 August, 1970 Classification: 0.5 A veteran of the sport, Naz began playing in 1992, and debuted for Australia in 1999. Naz has competed at five Paralympic Games, winning two gold (London 2012, Rio 2016) and two silver medals (Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008). A daredevil off the court, Naz was the first person with a spinal cord injury to paraglide solo and participate in the Targa Tasmania car rally. Rules

Wheelchair rugby is played on a regulation 28 x 15m basketball court with key areas at the end lines and 8m-wide goal line marked by cones. Teams consist of up to 12 players: four players on court, with the maximum on-court classification points totalling 8.0.

A goal is scored when two wheels of a player’s wheelchair cross the goal line while in possession and in control of the ball. A team has 40 seconds to score once the ball goes into play.

Players with the ball are not permitted to touch the floor with any part of their body or wheelchair (except for wheels and anti-tip device), and a player must dribble or pass the ball at least once every 10 seconds.

If your team has the ball, you cannot remain in the opposition’s key area for more than 10 seconds and if you get control of the ball in your back court area, your team has 12 seconds to advance the ball to your front court. The ball cannot return to your back court (the exception being if the opposition touches the ball).

The ball must stay in-bounds. A player is determined if he is in-bounds by his four wheels.

Each team has 4 x player time-outs and 2 x coach time-outs. Either team may call for a time-out when the ball is dead. When the ball is in play, only the team with possession can call it. If a time-out is called due to equipment malfunction (burst tyres are common), the affected team has one minute to correct the problem.

Some of the fouls a referee may call during a game: Charging, Four-in-the- Key, Leaving the Court, Holding, Pushing, Contact-Before-Whistle, Out-and-In, Illegal-Use-of-Hands, Spinning. There are also technical fouls and offending players can lose possession of the ball, serve time in the penalty box or be disqualified. Classification

Wheelchair rugby players have a disability which affects arms and legs. Every player is classified based on their disability is given a points value ranging from 0.5 (lowest) to 3.5 (highest).

The following is a very basic description of each class level and what the role would be in a wheelchair rugby team.

Class 0.5 = Main role is as blocker, not a major ball handler. Bats ball using “underhand volleyball pass” for longer range pass or for shorter range pass uses “scoop pass” with the ball forward to the side uses a two-hand toss.

Class 1.0 = Blocker, may in-bound ball, not a major ball handler. Forearm or wrist catch, and weak chest pass or forearm pass.

Class 1.5 = Blocker and also may be occasional ball handler. Increased shoulder strength and stability allows for more effective and efficient pushing ball handling skills.

Class 2.0 = Increasing role as ball handler, as strong and stable shoulders allows for good pushing speed on court. Effective chest pass with control over moderate distance, but limited ball security against defense during passing.

Class 2.5 = Ball handler and fairly fast playmaker with good pushing speed. Functional grip is used to advantage on the pushrim when challenged. Often can perform one-handed overhead pass, but limited accuracy and distance because of finger strength.

Class 3.0 = Very good ball handler and fast playmaker, gripping wheelchair rim increasing pushing speed. May have some trunk control giving better stability and with function in fingers, can control ball in varying planes of movement for passing, dribbling, catching and protecting the ball.

Class 3.5 = Often primary ball handler and fastest playmaker. Because of hand and trunk function, usually has excellent ball control with controlled one hand passing for distance and excellent ball security during passing and receiving. Thanks to all the sponsors, supporters and fans of Victorian Wheelchair Rugby

Love wheelchair rugby? Stay up to date with further information and match results at dsr.org.au