BOULDER, Colo. – USA Wheelchair Rugby launched its new website, usawr.org, Monday ahead of the IWRF 2014 World Championship in Odensa, Denmark.
Stemming from the recent partnership between USA Rugby and USA Wheelchair Rugby, the website will host the webstream of all of the U.S.’s matches at Sparekassen Fyn Arena, including:
- v France – Aug. 5 at 5:15 A.M. ET
- v New Zealand – Aug. 5 at 11:30 A.M. ET
- v Sweden – Aug. 6 at 6:30 A.M. ET
- v Germany – Aug. 7 at 9:00 A.M. ET
- v Japan – Aug. 8 at 5:15 A.M. ET
The new USA Wheelchair Rugby website will implement additional features – like player bios, videos, a social hub, news, and an innovative live match center – throughout the month and will strengthen the USA Wheelchair Rugby brand to attract sponsors.
“Being able to have a quality site that showcases the team is a huge moment for USA Wheelchair Rugby,” Head Coach James Gumbert said. “The ability to point fans, family, and friends to a landing spot that captures the essence of wheelchair rugby has everyone excited.”
The USA Wheelchair Rugby team has won four of the five World Championships (1995, 1998, 2006, 2010) and finished second to Canada in 2002. The team is also a two-time Paralympic Games champion (Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008) and won bronze at Athens 2004 and London 2012.
Currently ranked No. 1 in the world rankings, the reigning champion USA Wheelchair Rugby team could qualify for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Summer Games with a tournament victory in Odensa.
“For the first-time fan or the seasoned veteran of the sport, our goal is to field a team that represents the U.S.A. to the highest standards both on and off of the court,” Gumbert said. “Through these efforts we hope everyone sees how we change lives one hit at a time.”
“I wish Coach Gumbert and the team every success at their World Championships and USA Rugby is delighted to play a small part providing their fans and the American rugby community with a new platform where they can show their support for the team as they take on the best in the world,” USA Rugby Chief Executive Officer Nigel Melville said. “I would encourage those who have never watched a wheelchair rugby game to tune in and watch Team USA in action – it’s an awesome experience!”
The U.S.’s IWRF 2014 World Championship campaign kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 5, against France at 5:15 A.M. ET. Visit the new USA Wheelchair Rugby website to view the entire tournament schedule and to find streaming information for all matches.
About USA Rugby
Established in 1975, USA Rugby is the governing body for the sport of rugby in America and a Full Sport Member of the United States Olympic Committee. Currently headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, USA Rugby is charged with developing the game on all levels and has more than 95,000 active members, with more than 29,000 playing collegiate rugby and 35,000 playing senior club rugby. USA Rugby oversees four national teams, multiple collegiate and high school All-American sides, and an emerging Olympic development pathway for elite athletes. It also hosts more than 30 national playoff and championship events each year as a service to its members. In October 2009, the International Olympic Committee announced Rugby Sevens (the seven-a-side version of the game) will appear in the 2016 Olympic Games to be held in Rio de Janeiro. Visit www.usarugby.org for more information.
USA Rugby is now Work For It rugby.
