Amsterdam Quad Rugby Tournament

What is wheelchair rugby?

Wheelchair rugby was developed in Canada in the 1970s specifically for people with a high spinal cord injury. In these early years the sport was called “murder ball” due to the aggressive nature of the sport. The sport contains elements of ice hockey, rugby and basketball and is played on a basketball court. A point is scored by rolling over the opponent's goal line with wheelchair and the (volley) ball in possession. Nowadays, a wider group of players is being accepted into the sport. If one has reduced control in all 4 limbs, one may participate. This is where the term “Quad Rugby” comes from.

The wheelchair rugby match

A match is played between two teams of four players each on the field. The attacking team tries to get the ball over the opponent's goal line, the defending team tries to prevent this by blocking the player with the ball or stealing the ball. A lot is allowed as long as there is no body contact. This structure and rules ensure spectacular matches where sometimes sparks literally fly.

Amsterdam Quad Rugby Tournament

Every two years, a major international tournament is organized in Amsterdam by the local wheelchair rugby club, the “Amsterdam Terminators”. In 2025, exactly during the 750th anniversary of Amsterdam, this will be for the 10th time. For all details about this tournament, visit the website www.aqrt.nl