Wheelchair rugby
Wheelchair rugby is a mixed team sport for players with impairments of arms and legs. Four a side, in reinforced chairs, try to carry the ball over the opponents' try line; chair contact is allowed but body contact is not. Players are classed 0.5 to 3.5, and the four on court may total at most eight points.
New to wheelchair rugby? Start here
How long
Four periods of 8 minutes on a stopping clock
Lengths are from the rule book.
The big events, and why they matter
- 1Paralympic Games (wheelchair rugby)The top title in wheelchair rugby.Every 4 years · Holder: Japan beat the United States 48–41
- 2Wheelchair Rugby World ChampionshipThe sport's own world title.Every 4 years · Holder: 2026, São Paulo: the United States beat…
- 3Asian Para Games (wheelchair rugby)Asia's para multi-sport title, held after the Asian Games in the same city.Every 4 years · Holder: 22 sports, 501 events
India
India is not among the Paralympic participating nations and is not named in the saved World Championship results [the two pages].
- Wheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games: No medal; not among the participating nations
- Wheelchair Rugby World Championship: Not named in the saved results
Countries to know
India and the nations that have done best, biggest titles first.
- United StatesWheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games: 3 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2024); Wheelchair Rugby World Championship: 5 golds, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2026)
- AustraliaWheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games: 2 golds, 2 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2024); Wheelchair Rugby World Championship: 2 golds, 3 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2026)
- CanadaWheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games: 3 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2012); Wheelchair Rugby World Championship: 1 gold, 2 silvers, 2 bronzes (latest 2014)
- JapanWheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games: 1 gold, 2 bronzes (latest 2024); Wheelchair Rugby World Championship: 1 gold, 3 bronzes (latest 2026)
- New ZealandWheelchair rugby at the Paralympic Games: 1 gold, 2 bronzes (latest 2004); Wheelchair Rugby World Championship: 2 silvers, 1 bronze (latest 2006)
Who runs it
| Rules made by | World Wheelchair Rugby, International Wheelchair Rugby Rules, 1 April 2026 |
| International federation | World Wheelchair Rugby |
| In India | The Paralympic Committee of India is on the MYAS list for 2026; which body runs wheelchair rugby in India is not checked |
Searched 2026-10-20; no Indian body for this para sport was found beyond the PCI.
Where and when it is played
On a court 28 by 15 metres, the size of a basketball court. The big events: the Paralympic Games every four years and the Wheelchair Rugby World Championship every four years.