Draw made for 2018 Wheelchair Rugby Worlds

Hosts and tournament favourites Australia lead Pool A 27 Apr 2018

a group of wheelchair rugby players pose on the court with their medals

Australia are the reigning Paralympic and world champions

ⒸGetty Images

By IPC

The pools have been decided for the GIO 2018 International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) Wheelchair Rugby World Championship, which kick off 5-10 August in Sydney, Australia.

The draw was completed on Friday (27 April) in Sydney, with hosts and tournament favourites Australia headlining Pool A.

The reigning Paralympic and world champions are joined by No.4 seed Japan, who captured the nation’s first wheelchair rugby Paralympic medal in Rio with bronze. No.6 Sweden and No.9 Denmark will battle to make it out of Pool A. No.8 New Zealand and No.12 Ireland join the group after earning their spots via the Qualification Tournament earlier this month in Nottwil, Switzerland.

The USA – as the No.2 seed – are the strongest team in Pool B. The Rio 2016 silver medallists are looking to better their bronze from the last World Championships four years ago. They will meet a familiar foe in Canada, runners-up from 2014. No.5 Great Britain and No.7 France will try to contend for a place in the knockout stages. No.10 Colombia and No.11 Poland will also make the trip to Sydney after finishing in the top four at the Qualification Tournament.

Pool A

Australia

Japan

Sweden

New Zealand

Denmark

Ireland

Pool B

USA

Canada

Great Britain

France