Steelers and Wheel Blacks in Beijing Rugby Battle

[laura]

Steelers and Wheel Blacks in Beijing Rugby Battle
September 11, 2008 - 10:05am
Story by: ARU

Get behind the Australian Wheelchair Rugby Team, the Steelers, when they take on New Zealand’s Wheel Blacks at the Beijing Paralympic Games on Saturday.
The Qantas Wallabies aren’t the only Australian Rugby team taking on their Trans Tasman rivals this weekend, with the Australian Wheelchair Rugby Team, the Steelers, up against New Zealand’s Wheel Blacks at the Beijing Paralympic Games on Saturday. The Qantas Wallabies kick off at 8pm in Brisbane against the All Blacks in the final domestic Test of the 2008 Bundaberg Rum Rugby Series, with the Tri Nations trophy at stake, and the All Blacks looking for a win to retain the Bledisloe Cup. The Steelers have a 6pm Beijing time start against the Wheel Blacks, so with the two hour time difference, Beijing and Brisbane will both come alive when the games get underway at 8pm on Saturday night.

Wheelchair Rugby is one of the last events of the 11 day Paralympic Games schedule. The Steelers’ first pool match is against Germany on Friday 12 September, followed on Saturday by New Zealand and then Great Britain on Sunday 14 September. The semis and finals will be held on Monday and Tuesday, with the Steelers facing tough competition in the USA, Canada, Great Britain and New Zealand for the gold medal.

The Steelers won the Oceania championships in Sydney last November, and are currently ranked second in the world behind USA, and are aiming to better their Sydney performance in 2000 where they won a silver medal.


rugby.com.au | Steelers and Wheel Blacks in Beijing Rugby Battle

[LarryNJ]

The Steelers? What a great name for a team! Go Steelers!

[laura]

The game is on ABC1 now.
The rules seem nothing like rugby as we know it, they have forward passing and a round ball.

Batt is really good!!

[Swee_82]

And the good news- Steelers edged out the Wheel Blacks 39-38

[NTT]

we just beat great britain 43 - 37 and into the semis v canada

[beige]

we just beat great britain 43 - 37 and into the semis v canada

already? sweet!