Australian wheelchair rugby development team feeling fresh and focused ahead of the 2025 Shibuya Cup
Australia’s rising wheelchair rugby talent will take the international stage this week as the national development team head to Tokyo, Japan to compete in the Shibuya Cup, a key tournament showcasing the next generation of elite wheelchair rugby athletes.
The Mitsui Fudosan Wheelchair Rugby Shibuya Cup 2025 runs Friday 18 to Sunday 20 April and will be hosted at the Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium, the same venue that hosted the wheelchair rugby competition during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.
The competition will see emerging teams from Australia, Japan and the United States of America go head-to-head in a showcase of speed, skill, and strategic play.
For the 11-strong Australian development squad, the Shibuya Cup marks a significant step in their journey toward senior national representation. The team has been preparing under the guidance of national development staff, with a focus on high-performance training and building team cohesion on and off the court.
Australian development coach Jason Lees said the tournament offers a unique opportunity for athletes to test themselves on an international stage.
“The Shibuya Cup is an important part of our development pathway,” said Lees.
“This year, the focus for us is improvement. We're got a great group of athletes that have been on this journey together for the last 2 years, and they’ve improved a lot in that time, so for them, Shibuya is about taking that next step by exposing them to more international competition and continuously improving as they look to come into the Steelers.”
“Last year it was just us and Japan, and we went into the Cup with the results not an important part of our approach, but we were pleasantly surprised over there which was really positive for morale and everyone’s confidence. We’ve got a slightly different team this year, but I think we are still riding on that confidence this year.”
This year, USA joins the competition, and Lees says he wouldn’t be surprised if they’re playing to win.
“USA has selected a really strong team, so it’s going to be a great challenge for the development squad. Likewise, Japan has a great mix of experienced and new players, so it will be interesting to see how they perform and the new experience we will all be exposed to with a wide range of emerging talent at this competition,” he said.
“We know we’re up against strong opposition, but we’re focused. Fans watching at home should expect to see competitive games and some fresh, new faces from all the teams. It's going to be exciting, and I have no doubt that teams around the world will be watching this, and they will see that the future of Australian wheelchair rugby is very bright.”
The team also has a new leadership group, tasked with supporting the wider squad in whatever way they might need to set them up for success during the international trip.
“It’s a great opportunity for the leadership team to build their skills and it’s all part of the bigger picture going forward for the Steelers and the sport overall, we need strong leaders. We’ve made a great choice with co-captains James McQuillan and Jayden Jackson, and vice-captain Conor Tweedy – they’re all great players and naturally great leaders.”
Co-captain James McQuillan, who is enjoying his first experience in a leadership role, said the players are ready to meet the challenge during Shibuya.
“We’re going in feeling confident as a group,” McQuillan said.
“We’ve just come off the back of a solid training camp in Brisbane and we’re really excited to see what we can achieve in Tokyo. USA joining this year brings an extra level of complexity – there’s more teams involved which means more line-ups and a stronger competition, this is a key tournament for the development group and all of the athletes are excited to show what we can do as a team.”
“For a lot of our players, they’re looking ahead to LA 2028. Playing in a major stadium like this one against quality opposition is hugely valuable for their growth. While we’re going in with confidence, our focus is to be better each day, to improve every quarter we are out there – it’s about staying focused and continuing to build.”
The Shibuya Cup not only promotes high-level competition but also serves as a celebration of the global wheelchair rugby community and will be one of the last major international events ahead of Australia’s own 2025 Santos Wheelchair Rugby World Challenge coming to Adelaide in late May, with tickets now on sale.
“Our development athletes are hugely talented, it’s going to be such a spectacle to watch this exciting sport over the weekend,” McQuillan said.
“What better time to fall in love with wheelchair rugby, when in only a couple months’ time the Steelers will be competing on home soil, and you can see and cheer for our players in person.”
The Shibuya Cup will be streamed via the Japan Wheelchair Rugby Federation YouTube channel.
2025 Shibuya Cup Australian development team list
| Name | Classification |
|---|---|
| James McQuillan (c) | 0.5 |
| Damien Mortaud | 0.5 |
| Peter Campbell-Rogers | 1.0 |
| Tai Martin-Page | 1.5 |
| Lilliana Prucha | 2.0F |
| Josh Nicholson | 2.0 |
| Jayden Jackson (c) | 2.0 |
| Conor Tweedy (vc) | 2.5 |
| Robyn Lambird | 3.0F |
| Cooper Blackwood | 3.0 |
| Andrew Holloway | 3.5 |
Staff: Jason Lees (Head Coach), Richard Voris (Assistant Coach), Ben Newton (Assistant Coach), Sam Fox (Team Manager), Lewis Quinn (Analyst), Cam Lane (Strength & Conditioning), Lily Pridham (Mechanic), Brooke Cranney (Physiotherapist), Emily Athanasiou (Nurse)
For more information and media enquiries, please contact:
Emily Newton
Manager – Media & Marketing
emily@wheelchairrugby.com.au
0481 121 440