IWRF Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships

The 2019 IWRF Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships, which serve as a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, will take place from September 6-9 2019 in Korea.

2020 Tokyo Olympics qualification

Australia are the defending Paralympic wheelchair rugby champions, having won at Rio 2016 and London 2012. They have secured their place for next years Olympic Games after finishing 2nd at the 2018 World Championships in Sydney. Japan won the World Champs, and also qualified for Tokyo as hosts.

This means the Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships offers the final spot for one of  New Zealand, Thailand and South Korea to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

What is the IWRF (International Wheelchair Rugby Federation)?

Established in 1993, the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) is the governing body responsible for the sport of Wheelchair Rugby. According to their website, the main aims of the IWRF are to “help develop, promote, and regulate the sport of Wheelchair Rugby on a global basis.”

More more than 30 countries play wheelchair rugby and more are slowly developing the sport.

2019 World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge

The 2019 World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge is also happening in Tokyo, Japan (Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium) from the 16-20 October while the Rugby World Cup 2019 is running. Eight nations will be competing at the World Wheelchair Rugby Challenge, but Japan will be the only Asian representation.

IRWF World Rankings

The rankings are taken from the IRWF website (correct at time of publishing).

1. AUSTRALIA
2. UNITED STATES
3. JAPAN
4. GREAT BRITAIN
5. CANADA
6. FRANCE
7. DENMARK
8. SWEDEN
9. BRAZIL
10. NEW ZEALAND

Other Asian ranked countries:

• 14 KOREA
• 22 THAILAND
• 24 MALAYSIA
• 34 CHINA

IWRF Asia-Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships details

• Date: 6-9 September 2019
• Venue: Gangneung, Korea

Read about more rugby events taking place during the RWC 2019 in Asia.