Wheelchair Rugby Preview

USA Wheelchair Rugby punched its ticket to this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo with a dominating performance at the Parapan American Games Lima 2019. It looks to be another strong year for the U.S., currently ranked second in the world just behind reigning Paralympic Games champion, Australia. 

The 2020 season opened with another clean sweep victory for the Americans at the King Power Quad Nations Tournament, boasting a perfect 5-0 record at the event in Leicester, England. The wheelchair rugby calendar — along with that of the rest of the sporting world — then turned upside down with the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving Team USA having to rely on training camps as preparation for Tokyo. Fortunately, the U.S. will be bringing an experienced squad that won the silver medal five years ago in Rio.

Longtime head coach James Gumbert leads a U.S. roster that features 10 returning Paralympians and two newcomers. Returning to the Games are Chuck Aoki, Jeff Butler, Chad Cohn, Joe Delagrave, Lee Fredette, Chuck Melton, Eric Newby, Kory Puderbaugh, Adam Scutarro and Josh Wheeler. Making their first Paralympic appearances are Ray Hennagir and Joe Jackson.

Team USA boasts a record of 27-3 in Paralympic wheelchair rugby competition, landing on the podium in every Games since the introduction of the sport at Sydney 2000. The Americans have earned six medals — two gold, two bronze and one silver. The U.S. is one of five nations to win Paralympic rugby medals alongside Australia, Canada, Japan and New Zealand. All those countries will compete in Tokyo, along with Denmark, France and Great Britain.

Wheelchair rugby is essentially the same concept as its Olympic equivalent; the objective is for one team to carry the ball over their opponent’s try line. And wheelchair rugby does not lack for contact. The sport earned the nickname “murderball” for its high-impact collisions. Players must have the ability to absorb hits while keeping control of the ball. 

Updated on July 19, 2021. For more information, contact the sport press officer.

By Paralympic medal count, Team USA is the most successful nation in wheelchair rugby. But the U.S. has come up short of the gold medal at the last two Games, finishing third in 2012 and second in 2016, something it be looking to rectify in Tokyo.

After missing out on the team for the 2016 Rio Games, Joe Delagrave dedicated himself to becoming a better teammate and improving the culture surrounding the national team. Delagrave now hosts a podcast called “Captain’s Chat” with discussion about the intersection of life and rugby.
Chuck Aoki, 30, is one of many U.S. wheelchair rugby players who first heard of the sport by watching the 2005 documentary film “Murderball.” Aoki made his international debut for Team USA in 2009 and helped the U.S. to a bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games and silver in 2016. Aoki also has one world championship gold medal won in 2010 and bronze medals from 2014 and 2018.

Jeff Butler, 31, has been playing wheelchair rugby since he was 13. His association with the national team began in 2014 shortly after graduating from the University of Texas. Butler is heading to his second Paralympic Games and was also on the 2018 world championship team that won a bronze medal.

Lee Fredette, 38, was also inspired to take up the sport after watching “Murderball.” Fredette watched the film while recovering from a dirt bike accident that left him paralyzed. He competed on the 2014 and 2018 world championship teams and made his Paralympic debut in 2016.

Josh Wheeler, 41, first tried out for the national team in 2009 but did not make it. He kept trying and by 2013 had made it to national team alternate and in 2014 was on the world championship team. Wheeler made the Paralympic team for Rio and returned to the world championships in 2018.
August 25, 2021: Paralympic competition begins with the U.S. vs. New Zealand in pool play.
August 26, 2021: U.S. vs. Canada
August 27, 2021: U.S. vs. Great Britain
August 28, 2021: Classification matches and semifinal
August 29, 2021: Bronze- and gold-medal matches