Three NSWIS Athletes to defend Paralympic title

The NSWIS contingent to compete at the Paralympic Games grew yesterday with the inclusion of three NSWIS wheelchair rugby athletes.

Ryley Batt, Cameron Carr and Andrew Edmondson will join Australian team mates to defend their 2012 London Paralympic gold medal performance when they compete in Rio.

The 12 strong world championship winning team, was officially announced yesterday by the Australian Paralympic Committee at a ceremony on the Gold Coast and will feature a mix of debutants and Paralympic gold medallists.

When asked of the team’s chances of winning back to back gold, Australian Coach Brad Dubberley was optimistic.

“We obviously set the benchmark in London 2012, but I think this team gives us more depth than we have ever had,” Dubberley said.

“We know it’s going to be extremely tough to win back-to-back gold at the Paralympics but we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“Great Britain has improved more than any other team in the past 18 months and we play them in our first game, Canada has been ranked number one in the past year, the USA just took back the number one ranking, Japan is a threat and then there’s us.”

The 2016 Australian Paralympic Wheelchair Rugby Team

Ryley Batt – Port Macquarie, NSW

Chris Bond – Battery Hill, QLD

Cameron Carr – Port Macquarie, NSW

Andrew Edmondson – Kingsford, NSW

Nazim Erdem – Roxburgh Park, VIC

Ben Fawcett – Cormadai, VIC

Andrew Harrison – Bayswater North, VIC

Josh Hose – Footscray, VIC

Jason Lees – Hoppers Crossing, VIC

Matt Lewis – Pakenham, VIC

Ryan Scott (c) – Zillmere, QLD

Jayden Warn – Drouin, VIC