ODENSE, Denmark – The USA Wheelchair Rugby team has scored 181 goals in its first three matches at the IWRF 2014 World Championship, including 54 against the New Zealand Wheel Blacks.
The goal lines at the Stadium Arena Fyn have been crossed more times by the U.S. team in the first three matches of this year’s tournament than the first three matches of any of the previous four World Championships (111 in 1998; 155 in 2002; 144 in 2006; 173 in 2010).
The rate of scoring is not the only difference between this year’s USA Wheelchair Rugby team and previous incarnations. Due to the organization’s partnership with USA Rugby and USA Rugby’s subsequent deal with Official Kit Supplier BLK, the USA Wheelchair Rugby team has been outfitted in brand new BLK kit.
BLK Sport European Sales Manager Mark Kirkup was also on hand in Odense to see the new jerseys in action.
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Featuring “USA” on their backs and the new USA Wheelchair Rugby logo on their chests, the USA Wheelchair Rugby team is hoping to add its fifth World Championship title after taking home gold in 1995 in Switzerland, 1998 in Canada, 2006 in New Zealand, and 2010 in Canada.
A tournament win would also secure a place for the U.S. at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Summer Games. The U.S. has also won gold twice on the Paralympic stage since wheelchair rugby’s inclusion in the Games Program. Atlanta 1996 is excluded due to the sport being contested as a demonstration sport, though the U.S. won gold.
The USA Wheelchair Rugby team will continue pool play Thursday, Aug. 7, against Germany at 9:00 A.M. ET. The U.S.’s last match of pool play will tip off Friday, Aug. 8, at 5:15 A.M. ET. Watch all matches from the IWRF 2014 World Championship live on usawr.org.