Jim Roberts was 19, a talented distance runner and studying to be an architectural technician when he was struck down by meningitis. He lost both his legs below the knee and the index finger of his left hand. But after emerging from two and a half years in hospital, and what he says were some severe bouts of depression, Roberts not only found the strength to finish his degree but also rediscovered his passion for sport, eventually becoming a member of the Great Britain wheelchair rugby team. Pursuing his ambitions in architecture was problematic, he explained yesterday, because conducting site visits in a wheelchair is nigh-on impossible. But wheelchair rugby offered him a career, albeit one funded to the tune of just £12,000 a year by UK Sport. Jim Roberts was part of the GB wheelchair rugby team that finished sixth in Rio last summer The game, he says, was about so much more than money though. At 29, he says it has been a hugely important part of his recovery process.

This week, however, that money was stopped, UK Sport’s refusal to fund wheelchair rugby and a number of other Olympic and Paralympic sports leaving athletes like Roberts in fear of what the future now holds. ‘I’ve put my all into this and it has just been taken away from me,’ said Roberts. ‘I honestly don’t know what’s going to happen. However, Roberts and his sport have been crushed by UK Sport's decision to cut their fundingrush for chair seats THE SEVEN SPORTS TO LOSE THEIR FUNDING  In Pursuit of Olympic and Paralympic medals at Tokyo 2020, UK Sport has cut funding entirely for seven sports...pool lounge chairs plastic ‘Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby have told us they are going to organise a fundraising campaign but there is no guarantee that the money will be there.table and chair rentals north jersey

‘It’s definitely a worrying situation because it’s not just the money I receive every month, which is my main source of income and is used to pay for things like travel expenses. 'As a UK Sport-funded athlete you get an Oyster card for travelling in London — I use that a lot — and something called a gold card that gets you discounts on certain items and things like physiotherapy. ‘In fact, physio is one of the things GBWR will now struggle to fund because of this decision. dining room chairs nhThat and other help we get as a team from sports psychologists and strength and conditioning coaches.’small tub chair ikea Roberts suspects UK Sport’s decision is based on simple logic.cape cod chair free plans ‘We were fifth in London in 2012 and fifth in Rio, so they won’t see any signs of improvement there,’ he said.french dining chairs singapore

‘But what I don’t think they’ve looked at is the actual performances (they lost to eventual gold medal winners, Australia) and the margin of defeat compared to 2012. We were improving and I have no doubt we are good enough to be in contention for a medal in Tokyo in 2020. We were good enough in Rio. Roberts has now lost his main source of income - £12,000-a-year from UK Sport ‘What doesn’t really make any sense is the timing of the decision. high chair cushion nzIt was in 2012 that they gave us the funding designed to deliver a medal in Tokyo and they’ve pulled it at the halfway stage.’table and chair rental woodland ca On a personal level it is devastating for Roberts. ‘The last time I felt this uncertainty was when I realised I couldn’t pursue my ambitions in architecture and I wondered what I was going to do with my life,’ he said.

‘Wheelchair rugby gave me direction. Today I’m back in that place again.’ The Welshman admits that he is back in a dark place following the devastating decision Rod Carr, chairman of UK Sport, announcing the original decision on cuts last DecemberWheelchair Rugby, also known as Murder Ball or Quad Rugby in America, was developed in Canada in 1977. The rules of are based on other sports. These sports include basketball, ice hockey, and handball. It is a contact sport. Physical contact between wheelchairs is an integral part of the game. There are currently twenty-six countries competing. Many more countries are developing the game. Active countries that currently play the game are divided into three zones. These are the Americas, Europe and Asia/Oceania. The game consists of two teams of twelve players. In a game only four players from each team are allowed on the court at one time. This is a mixed gender sport with both men and women competing against each other.

The game is played indoors on a hard court with the same measurements as a basketball court. Players score a try by carrying the ball across the goal line. For a try to count a player must have two wheels of their wheelchair over the goal line. When a player has possession of the ball they must either bounce or pass the ball. Failure to do so will result in the loss of possession to the opposing team. Physical contact between wheelchairs is permitted; this makes the game more exciting. Fouls can either be defensive or offensive fouls. A defensive foul is penalised by a one minute penalty, while an offensive foul is penalised by a loss of possession. Some of the common fouls that occur are spinning, illegal use of hands and holding. Much like able bodied rugby, the game is fluid and fast moving with possession going back and forth between the teams while play continues. Players can only be subbed during a stoppage in play. Click here to shop in the UK and Ireland. Click here to shop in the USA.

If you are looking for books or DVDs on this sport, clothing or equipment, we have them here.  Instead of having to wade through Amazon's huge catalogue, we have created and refined product lists for you.  If you buy items through these links, we will earn a small commission from the sale, and it will be at NO extra cost to you. You may buy from either shop regardless of your location, but extra delivery charges may apply if international delivery results. The game is played in manual wheelchairs. Key features of wheelchair designed include: a front bumper, which is designed to help strike opponents, wings which are positioned in front to make wheelchairs more difficult to stop and hold, and an anti-tipping device, which stops the player from tipping backwards. Another feature of a rugby wheelchair is strapping, which is used to keep the players securely seated in their wheelchairs. They also help the occupant of the wheelchair maintain a good seating position. The final specification for a wheelchair is spoke protectors.

These are designed to protect the wheels from damage (and also to prevent damage to unwary fingers). Players also use personal equipment which can include gloves or applied adhesive which can help with ball handling. The ball is identical in size to a volleyball and are of soft touch design with a surface that is textured for better grip. They are also over-inflated to provide a better bounce. The USA Wheelchair Rugby Team The first Championships were held in 1995, at Nottwil, Switzerland. The winners of the first tournament were the United States who beat Canada. In 1996 in the Paralympics in Atlanta, Wheelchair Rugby was a demonstration sport. Again just like the year previously it was the United States who prevailed beating New Zealand. Four years later in The Sydney Paralympics, Wheelchair Rugby was officially classed as an official event. The most successful team when it comes to the Wheelchair Rugby World Championships is The United States team, who have won it on four occasions.