Wheelchair Rugby Australia has confirmed Adelaide will host the sport’s national championships for the next three years.
The flagship event will see some of the nation’s best wheelchair rugby athletes – and at least two invitational international teams – converge on Adelaide to contest next year’s championship.
“This is a significant win for SA which will see some of Australia’s best rugby players converging on Adelaide for the next three years and create an exciting opportunity for South Australian fans and visitors to our state to get together and cheer these excellent athletes on,” said Minister Katrine Hildyard.
“The Malinauskas Government is really focused on inclusion and diversity in sport and proud to support this elite event. It adds to a vast array of major events set for South Australia in 2024 and beyond – events that benefit our community and our economy and inspires even more people to get involved in sport and experience the many benefits that participating brings.”
The 2024 Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship will be held at Netball SA Stadium from 2 – 5 May, which will be the last opportunity for supporters to see Australia’s best players in action on home soil before competing in the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
“The significance and impact this commitment by the South Australian Government will have on wheelchair rugby in Australia cannot be understated,” said Wheelchair Rugby Australia CEO, Chris Nay.
“We have worked hard to develop the profile of this event over the past few years and this announcement is a testament to our broader community of athletes, officials, classifiers and stakeholders whose continued efforts have resulted in this opportunity to deliver the event on a greater scale.
“We are incredibly humbled to be included in the esteemed list of sporting offerings the South Australian government provide to their community and are committed to providing a fantastic experience to wheelchair rugby and sport fans across the country through this agreement.”
Tickets to the 2024 Santos Wheelchair Rugby National Championship will be available in December 2023.
