What are the rules of wheelchair rugby?
B · Beginner · The game · 1 of 4Wheelchair 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; body contact is not. A game is four 8-minute periods, and the four on court may total at most eight classification points.
How it works
- Teams: four on court, twelve in the squad.
- Mixed: men and women together.
- Score: a try, carrying the ball over the line.
- Contact: chair to chair allowed.
- Time: four periods of 8 minutes.
- Points cap: eight on court.
- Ball: passed, bounced or carried on the lap.
- Shot clock: 40 seconds to score.
The glossary has the wheelchair rugby, the World Wheelchair Rugby, the try, the team and players on court, the eight-point limit and the playing time (wheelchair rugby).
Tricky cases
Can a player kick the ball?
No.
Can a woman add points to the cap?
Yes, a team gets extra allowance for women on court.
Is a try worth more than one?
No. One point.
Is tackling the player allowed?
No. Only chair contact is legal.
Why the rule exists
Chair contact lets players with limited hand function block and tackle. The points cap ensures teams include the most impaired players.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Teams | Four on court | 34 |
| Scoring | Try, one point | 68 |
| Points | Eight maximum | 35 |
From the rule book
World Wheelchair Rugby, International Wheelchair Rugby Rules (1 April 2026), rules 1, 14, 34, 35, 50 and 68. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Wheelchair Rugby International Rules, April 2026.