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Rugby

The genesis and growth of Wheelchair Rugby in Ireland

Listen to the full interview above  The world of wheelchair rugby was first brought to many...



The genesis and growth of Whee...
Rugby

The genesis and growth of Wheelchair Rugby in Ireland

Listen to the full interview above 

The world of wheelchair rugby was first brought to many people's consciousness in the 2005 documentary film Murderball and tonight we learned plenty about the Irish team.

Gaelic Warriors' Gareth Culliton joined us on the line to tell us about the squad that faces Wales in an international this weekend.

"We're on the go since '97. I had a spinal injury myself playing rugby in '92 and my interest had always been in team sports. I got involved in athletics and table tennis after my injury and there was no rugby. I was away playing at an athletics event in England and I saw wheelchair rugby. I was immediately hooked by it. A few of us got together in '97 and got it going," said Culliton, of the genesis of Gaelic Warriors and wheelchair rugby in Ireland.

He explained that it has gone from strength to strength in this country over the last few years.

The game is often considered to be very physical.

"There's a lot of chair contact, not much body contact. It's a game for people with hand impairment as well as leg impairment. Wheelchair basketball has been around for a long time. I play basketball but I have some hand impairment so I struggle against the guys who have full hand function so rugby is a great game for people like myself and others with hand impairment," said Culliton, who compared the chairs to "warriors chariots".

Culliton also explained the general rules of the four-a-side game and looked ahead to the Wales game which will take place in the surrounds of the Burlo Hilton Hotel.

 

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