What wheelchair is used in wheelchair rugby?
Officials' detail · The game · 1 of 1The chair is part of the player and must meet the rules or be barred. It has two main wheels up to 70 cm with spoke guards, two casters, a front bumper 11 cm off the floor, optional side wings and an anti-tip behind. Brakes, steering and gears are banned. A padded ball holder may be fitted.
How it works
- Wheels: two main, two casters.
- Main wheels: 70 cm at most.
- Spoke guards: required.
- Bumper: 11 cm off the floor at the front.
- Wings: optional side rods.
- Anti-tip: not spring-loaded.
- Banned: brakes, gears, steering.
- Ball holder: padded, 75% of ball visible.
The glossary has the wheelchair (wheelchair rugby), the bumper, the wings, the anti-tip device (wheelchair rugby), the ball holder and the cushion, strapping and padding.
Tricky cases
A chair breaks mid-game. What then?
An equipment time-out of one minute.
Can a player sit on two cushions?
No. One, up to 10 cm.
Can a ball holder grip the ball?
No. No spring or pressure fit.
Must feet be strapped?
A strap must stop them slipping off the footrest.
Why the rule exists
Strict sizes stop chairs becoming weapons. Equal bumper height means chairs meet bar to bar.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper | 11 cm high | 29 |
| Anti-tip | Not sprung | 28 |
| Cushion | 10 cm | 31 |
From the rule book
World Wheelchair Rugby, International Wheelchair Rugby Rules (1 April 2026), rules 21 and 23 to 31. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: World Wheelchair Rugby International Rules, April 2026.