Team GB ready for Euro ‘murderball’

Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby captain Chris Ryan said winning gold at the upcoming European Championships would be a massive confidence booster ahead of the Rio Paralympics in 2016.

The BT GB Wheelchair Rugby (GBWR) squad are currently preparing for the 2015 Wheelchair Rugby European Championships and will head to Finland for the event, which takes place from September 13-20.

The sport, often dubbed ‘Murderball’, gained new fans as the Great Britain side finished fifth at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and Ryan is in no doubt at the positive effect overall victory in Finland could have on his side’s prospects in Rio next year.

He said: “We’ve got so much potential in the squad, just getting the blend right will be the key.

“To be a young team picking up gold would be massive for us.”

The top eight teams from Europe will be taking part in the tournament with the top two teams automatically securing their places at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

David Pond, CEO of GB wheelchair rugby said: “It’s going to be tough but I expect to go away from here with a gold medal.”