Eight men enter the court, exchanging grimaces and choice words before they begin their intense adrenaline-pumping game8212;murderball.
Wheelchair rugby, known to enthusiasts as murderball, has become the fastest-growing paralympic sport, encouraging many in the disabled community who would otherwise avoid team sports to become involved and create squads.
Four members of the Utah Scorpions, the Salt Lake City-based wheelchair rugby team, held a symposium sponsored by the U’s College of Social Work on Monday to talk about the positive impact rugby has had on their lives.
“It’s more than bashing into a chair and knocking someone out.,” said Tim Daynes, head coach of the Scorpions. “It’s about life.”
Wheelchair rugby, also officially called quad rugby because only quadriplegics are allowed to play, is a relatively young sport. The first official competition was held in 1990 at the World Stoke Mandeville Games in England and has since become a paralympic sport, with more than 45 teams in the United States alone.
The sport gained international attention with the release of “Murderball,” a documentary about the U.S. national team preparing for the 2004 Olympics in Athens, and created a wave of new teams across the country.
The Scorpions, one of such teams, consists of players from around the western United States and from many different walks of life. One of the players, Josh Wheeler, had won three Oregon football state championships and was committed to playing for Brigham Young University before he broke his neck in a motorcycle accident.
“The doctor told me I had about a one percent chance of ever walking again,” Wheeler said. “We all have our hard days.”
Injury is nothing new to Wheeler, who considers himself accident-prone. Prior to his neck injury, Wheeler had broken 49 bones playing various sports. His ability to overcome opposition is what pushed him initially to get involved with quad rugby and has earned him the nickname “Scorpion King” for being the team’s top scorer.
Despite their success, the teammates said they all recognize the debilitating effect a tragic injury can have on one’s psyche.
“Clearly, there is no reason why you wouldn’t be depressed, but you just have to laugh,” Daynes said.
While waiting in a Washington, D.C. airport, one of Wheeler’s teammates, Anthony Tucker, wheeled up and clipped his chair from behind, causing him to tip over backward. A scene that would cause embarrassment to most others was lightened by Wheeler’s humor.
“All the airport security were screaming, “Man in a wheelchair down! He’s down!’ It provided a little laugh. I think I got some pictures from it,” Wheeler said.
Quad rugby has played an essential role in each of the teammembers’ lives.
“Rugby’s done more for me than I can say. I love competition. I’ll do everything I can until I beat you. Rugby’s been an awesome experience for me,” said Tucker, co-captain of the Scorpions. “I’ve also learned that everybody needs help at some point.”