Team-by-team guide to the IWRF World Championships

Starting on Monday (4 August), 12 teams will contest the world title in Odense, Denmark. Here's all you need to know about each team. 30 Jul 2014
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Ryley Batt

Australia's Ryley Batt has arguably been deemed the top wheelchair rugby player in the world and led his team to gold at London 2012.

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By Beau Greenway | For the IPC

The 2014 International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) World Championships get underway on Monday 4 August at Arena Fyn in Odense, Denmark. The world’s top 12 ranked nations will feature in the sixth staging of the event. Here is a look at those who will be competing:

Pool A

Australia

Australia will be out to win their first ever world title this year. The team, who are ranked second best in the world, will be looking to get back to the form that won them a first ever Paralympic gold at London 2012. After losing their world No.1 ranking to the USA at the Denmark Wheelchair Rugby Challenge last year, the Steelers are hungrier than ever to get it back by winning the tournament.

Australia’s first game is against Great Britain on 5 August.

Championship medals: Silver (2010), Bronze (2002)

Paralympic medals: Gold (2012), Silver (2008, 2000)

Head Coach: Brad Dubberley

Squad: Nazim Erdem, Ryley Batt, Cameron Carr, Joshua Hose, Jason Ellery, Michael Ozzane, Jason Lees, Chris Bond, Ryan Scott, Curtis Palmer, Jayden Warn.

Belgium

You have to go back to 2002 to find Belgium’s best finish of fourth in an IWRF World Championship. Recent form and a limited number of players available have hurt Belgium’s chances in recent years. With that in mind, they have the advantage of sneaking under the radar and causing an upset or two with the expectations lying heavily on Australia, Canada and the host nation in their pool.

Belgium has the honour of taking on Denmark to get the tournament under way on 4 August.

Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Bob Vanacker

Squad: Bruno Vroman, Frederik Windey, Ive Theuwissen, Ludwig Budeners, Pascal Cosyns, Raf Hendrix, Ronald Verhaegen.

Canada

The world No.3 side will be chasing their second IWRF World Championship title in 2014. After a disappointing 2010 tournament where they finished fifth, team Canada believe they have what it takes to go all the way in Odense. They carry strong form into the tournament after winning the silver medal at the Canada Cup in June. The Canadians have retained the same squad that finished third at the Denmark Wheelchair Rugby Challenge last year and cannot be taken lightly by anyone.

Canada will face hosts Denmark in their first hit out on 5 August.

Championship medals: Gold (2002), Silver (1995), Bronze (1998, 2006)

Paralympic medals: Silver (1996, 2004, 2012) Bronze (2008)

Head Coach: Kevin Orr

Squad: Byron Green, Trevor Hirschfield, Patrice Dagenais, Miranda Biletski, Patrice Simard, David Willsie, Travis Murao, Ian Chan, Fabien Lavoie, Garett Hickling, Zak Madell, Michael Whitehead.

Denmark

The host nation of a major tournament can never be underestimated as Denmark aim to take down wheelchair rugby’s best teams on home soil in Odense. After narrowly losing the European Championships to Sweden last year, Denmark has managed to sustain their ranking at No.6 in the world with some very consistent performances in recent tournaments. Their only previous IWRF World Championship appearance was in 2006 where they placed 12th but expect them to be amongst the top teams come the end of this event.

Denmark will open the tournament against European rivals Belgium on 4 August.

Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Thor Johansson.

Squad: Jesper Kruger, Mike Borgstrom, Kurt Busk, Sebastian Frederiksen, Jon Johanneson, Thor Johansson, Leon Jorgensen, Thomas Pagh, Kristian Bak Eriksen.

Finland

A largely unknown team in the world of wheelchair rugby, Finland played really well in last year’s European Championships to qualify for the IWRF World Championship. Finland won’t be expecting to win the tournament but will aim to be very competitive and try to register a win or two in the group stage.

Finland face Belgium in their opening game on 5 August, both teams will see that as an opportunity to register a win.

Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Valtteri Lehtinen

Squad: Anna Pasanen, Antti Sinisaari, Jukka Parvianen, Risto Mort, Mauri Vironmaki, Leevi Ylonen, Tukka Nisso, Tuomas Tella, Santeri Martikainen.

Great Britain

Great Britain will pose a massive threat to likes of Australia, Canada and Denmark in Pool A following their performance at the Canada Cup in June. Great Britain finished fourth but went down by a single goal against the Canadians in the semi-final which would have guaranteed them a medal. The team has a unique mix of youth and experience making them one to watch closely in Odense.

Great Britain face Australia on 5 August in what is sure to be a very close affair.

World Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Paul Shaw

Squad: Alan Ash, Coral Batey, Ayaz Bhuta, Johnathon Coggan, Michael Kerr, James Roberts, Christopher Ryan, Jamie Stead, Gavin Walker, Mandip Sehmi, Bulbul Hussain, Muhammad Islam.

Pool B

France

This year marks the first time that France has been represented in the IWRF World Championship. They go into the tournament as the lowest ranked team but have come a long way since 2013 and will look to surprise a few teams in their group.

France face New Zealand in their opening game on 5 August

Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Oliver Cusin.

Squad: Pablo Neuman, Adrien Chalmin, Cyrille Chauvel, Christophe Corompt, Rodolphe Jarlan, Sebastian Lhuisser, Charles Martinez, Cedric Nankin, Nicolas Rioux, Ryadh Sallam, Jonathan Hivernat, Eric Meurisse.

Germany

Germany will be aiming to better their best result of sixth place at an IWRF World Championship when they travel to Odense this year. With an experienced coach in Joe Soares, Germany definitely have what it takes to beat the teams ranked above them and regain their position as European No.1.

Germany will be looking for the perfect start when they take on Japan on 5 August.

Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Joe Soares

Squad: Thorsten Altmann, Maik Baumann, Steve Diederich, Christian Gotze, Maximilian Haberkorn, Kevin Kramer, Fabian Muller, Christian Paschke, Christian Riedel, Jens Sauerbier, Thomas, Schuwje, Matthias Stroh.

Japan

Japan has consistently made it to the semi final stage of major tournaments over the last few years and will be aiming to take that extra step and at least make the final at Odense this year. The No.1 ranked Asian nation won bronze in 2010 and will definitely be amongst the top teams in the tournament, the question is, can they go all the way?

Japan takes on Germany in their first match of the tournament on 5 August.

World Championship medals: Bronze (2010)

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Adam Frost

Squad: Masayuki Haga, Yukinobu Ike, Daisuke Ikezaki, Tomoaki Imai, Kazuhiko Kanno, Kotaro Kishi, Shin Nakazato, Shinichi Shimakawa, Takeshi Shoji, Hidefumi Wakayama, Takahisa Yamaguchi, Yu Nagayasu.

New Zealand

Since failing to qualify for the London 2012 Paralympics, New Zealand has done some serious rebuilding over the last two years. It can’t be forgotten that the Wheel Blacks were Paralympic champions in 2004 and are now back amongst the best teams in the world. They are another team that, on their day, can cause a major upset. Their best performance at the IWRF World Championship was a silver medal in 1998.

New Zealand’s tournament campaign begins against France on 4 August.

World Championship medals: Silver (1998, 2006), Bronze (1995).

Paralympic medals: Gold (2004), Bronze (1996, 2000).

Head Coach: Peter Martin

Squad: Maia Amai, Dan Buckingham, Rob Hewitt, Barney Koneferenisi, Tainafi Lefono, Cameron Leslie, Gavin Rolton, Phil Spring, Sholto Taylor, Adam Wakeford, Steve Smith.

Sweden

The reigning European Champions will be out to show why they were the top qualifiers from their zone when the IWRF World Championship gets underway. Sweden will be a little disappointed that they failed to reach the semi finals at the recent Canada Cup but know that they will have the bigger picture of performing well in Odense well and truly in mind. They narrowly missed out on a medal in the 2010 Championships, finishing fourth.

Sweden will be out to avenge their bronze medal defeat to Japan in 2010 when they play them in their first game of the tournament on 5 August.

World Championship medals: None

Paralympic medals: None

Head Coach: Per-Arne Kulle

Squad: Glenn Adaszak, Andreas Collin, Tomas Hjert, Stefan Jansson, Roger Lindberg, Rickard Loefgren, Mikael Norlin, Tobias Sandberg, Mikael Widlund, Per-Arne Kulle.

USA

Team USA has won every edition of the IWRF World Championship except in 2002. The four-time world champions and world No.1 ranked side will start the tournament as favourites once again. USA has not lost a major tournament since the disappointment of missing the final at the London Paralympic Games and will not settle for anything less than gold in Odense.

The defending champions will take on France in their opening game of the tournament on 5 August.

Championship medals: Gold (1995, 1998, 2006, 2010), Silver (2002)

Paralympic medals: Gold (1996, 2000, 2008) Bronze (2004, 2012)

Head Coach: James Gumbert

Squad: Jason Regier, Jeromy Brown, Chad Cohn, Ernie Chun, Andy Cohn, Joe Delagrave, Derrick Helton, Charles Melton, Eric Newby, Josh Wheeler, Chance Summer, Chuck Aoki.

For more information on the 2014 IWRF World Championships, please visit the competition website.