2021 GIO Wheelchair Rugby Nationals Postponed to late May 2021
Wheelchair Rugby Australia (WRA), with the support of its state programs, has today announced the postponement of the 2021 GIO Wheelchair Rugby National Championship by one month. Originally scheduled from Friday 30 April – Sunday 2 May, the event will now be held from Friday 28 May – Sunday 30 May on the Gold Coast in light of the recent COVID-19 cluster in Queensland.
Wheelchair Rugby Australia’s General Manager Chris Nay said “whilst it is disappointing news for all our athletes, programs and officials who have waited so long for competition to resume, we really had no choice other to push the competition back a few weeks. If we decided to push ahead with the event in its original form, we would have definitely seen the withdrawal of some of the teams, athletes and officials from key states given the quarantine measures implemented by varying state governments on returning travellers since the outbreak of this new cluster.”
“This pandemic has really highlighted the need for organisations, particularly in sport to remain agile, and if delaying the event start date by a month ensures greater competition integrity, participation and provides all of our wheelchair rugby community the opportunity to be involved, then it will have been the right decision. We appreciate the inconvenience that this causes our community, but hope it can be understood we are making these decisions with the best interests of wheelchair rugby at heart.”
Wheelchair Rugby Australia wishes to confirm that the event in its full format will go ahead as planned on the new revised dates at the Gold Coast Sport & Leisure Centre in Carrara this May. It would also like to acknowledge the understanding and cooperation of the competing state programs, sponsors, host venue and key stakeholders in their support of this decision.
All ticketholders have been contacted and have the option to have tickets reissued to the new dates or be refunded.
2021 GIO Wheelchair Rugby National Championship
Dates: Friday 28 May – Sunday 30 May
Venue: Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, Carrara QLD 4211
Tickets: www.wheelchairrugby.com.au
Further Information:
Contact: Chris Nay - General Manager, Wheelchair Rugby Australia
M: 0405 036 727
E: chris@wheelchairrugby.com.au