The first round of the 2025 Wheelchair Rugby National League concluded in Melbourne with state derby matches and Division 2 finals spearheading the Sunday contests.

Game 1 – SA Sharks vs VIC Thunder

With a place in the Division 2 final on the line, both teams came out firing in a tightly contested matchup. The first quarter saw them go try for try before SA Sharks edged ahead in the second, building a three-point lead that they held onto for the remainder of the game. Zak Robertson once again led from the front, steering SA to victory in a match where both sides left nothing on the court. With this result, SA secured their place in the Division 2 final against the QLD Cyclones.

SA Sharks 25 defeated VIC Thunder 22

Game 2 – Box Hill RUFC vs Melbourne RUFC

Box Hill set the tone early in the first derby matchup of the day, storming to a seven-point lead at the first break. Melbourne RUFC responded with relentless pressure, preventing Box Hill from extending their advantage. Jayden Warn made his presence felt for Melbourne with a late surge to close the gap to four. Box Hill’s cohesive and strategic play proved the difference, with their disciplined first-quarter performance ultimately giving them the win.

Box Hill RUFC 49 defeated Melbourne RUFC 45

Game 3 – Sydney University vs Hunter Wildfires

In a battle to establish the top New South Wales team, Sydney University and Hunter Wildfires went head-to-head. Both teams were forced to adapt, playing one man down due to injuries, which added extra pressure on key players to step up. AJ Holloway once again led the charge for Sydney, showcasing his consistency throughout the tournament. Cooper Blackwood and Rob Hewitt combined well to keep the Wildfires in the fight, but Sydney’s resilience proved decisive as they held on for a hard-fought three-point victory.

Sydney University 53 defeated Hunter Wildfires 50

Game 4 – Bond University vs UQ

With both teams entering this clash undefeated, the Queensland derby was billed as the match of the tournament—and it certainly delivered. Chris Bond set the tone early for UQ, guiding his side to a three-point lead at the first break, while Bond University applied persistent pressure in an effort to close the gap. Cam Whittaker and Josh Nicholson were instrumental in shutting down key plays from Bond’s duo, Brayden Foxley-Conolly and Conor Tweedy. In the end, UQ's early lead set them up to secure a three-point victory, cementing their spot at the top of the leaderboard ahead of their home National League round in Brisbane.

UQ 46 defeated Bond University 43

Game 5 – SA Sharks vs QLD Cyclones

In the Division 2 final and the final match of the Melbourne Invitational, the SA Sharks look to topple the odds on favourites, QLD Cyclones. Both teams started the contest with high-low line ups but it was the combination of Chalker and Rennie-Kay that proved unstoppable with the Cyclones taking an early 13-point lead at the end of the first half. Not giving up, the new-blood of Johnson, Crowden & Senbel-Lynch, saw the Sharks fight back to win the third quarter by seven points. In the end, the early lead and dominant last quarter secured the victory for the QLD Cyclones wrapping up an undefeated weekend.

QLD Cyclones 31 defeated SA Sharks 22

OVERALL NATIONAL LEAGUE LADDER (END ROUND 1)

Rank	Team	Points
1	University of Queensland	20
2	Bond University	18
3	Box Hill RUFC	16
4	Sydney University	14
5	Melbourne Rugby Club	12
6	Rolling Wildfires	10

DIVISION 2 RESULTS

1st: QLD Cyclones

2nd: SA Sharks

3rd: VIC Thunder

All eyes now turn to Round 2 of the 2025 Wheelchair Rugby National League, the Brisbane Bash to be held at Nissan Arena, 4 – 6 April 2025. More information about the tournament will be released soon. Make sure to follow us on socials and check out National League Central to stay up to date!

Day 3 Recap | 2025 National League - Melbourne Invitational