Emerging Talent Converge on Melbourne as Steelers search for Next Gen stars
The future - proofing of the Australian Steelers is well and truly underway as Wheelchair Rugby Australia’s development program staged an emerging talent camp at their Melbourne-based headquarters this week.
The three-day camp saw 11 new athletes identified across the various state programs travel to Melbourne on Tuesday to be a part of the program, designed to provide exposure to fundamental high-performance training, testing, classification expectations and Steelers environment as they embark on their journeys in the sport.
The cohort were also treated to a surprise appearance from Steelers legend Ryley Batt, who generously shared the experiences he has obtained through playing wheelchair rugby at the highest level.
The camp leads directly into the first Wheelchair Rugby National League round of 2025, tipping off on Friday in Caroline Springs. Here, all participating emerging camp attendees will compete in their first wheelchair rugby tournament in the Division 2 competition, providing a valuable opportunity to gain game experience, learn the rules, and build confidence on the court.
Among the new athletes is Peter Campbell - Rogers from NSW, who has been training for the past 12 months and will be competing in his first tournament.
“I’m nervous but excited. I’ve only been training so far, so I’m looking forward to seeing the game up close, getting involved, and learning as much as I can. Hopefully, I’ll get classified and continue progressing in the sport.”
When asked what he loves about rugby, Peter shared:
“It’s the people. There’s a strong sense of connection, everyone is really supportive, and it’s a great outlet.”
In a sign of progress for the community game, the division two competition of Melbourne Invitational this weekend will include twenty three participants, playing across three teams. Ironically, it was the Melbourne Invitational in 2024 where the division two competition was first introduced, with 6 players listed, highlighting a 17-player increase to the competition.
Melbourne Invitational Division 2 – Playing List
Jack Watson, Natalie Millar, Alby Everitt, Jacob Cremen – Darkin, Cameron Wales, Scott Mackay, Christian Brackley, Brydee Moore, Hamish Baker, Ben Owens, Jett Johnson, Zak Robertson, Sean Senbel – Lynch, Caleb Crowden, Dane Kinder, Jacob Walsh, Benjamin Chalker, Rhiannon Bellette, Keaton Rennie – Kay, Dani Hale, Hamish Cook, Naz Erdem, Armaan Dhillon
The National League kicks off tomorrow morning from 9:30am running through to Sunday, 2 March at Caroline Springs Leisure Centre. Check out the National League Hub and follow along on our socials to catch all the action of our new and emerging players. You don’t want to miss this one!