New Era As Graham Prepares For Leadership Role

An ambitious era for Australian wheelchair rugby beyond Paris 2024 will begin this month when the national development squad arrives in Japan for the Shibuya Cup.

Headlined by two-time Paralympian Shae Graham, Paralympics Australia has confirmed the 11-player squad selected for the four-match series in Tokyo against Japan’s development squad.

Mid-pointer Graham, 0.5 star Mick Ozanne and high-point prodigy Brayden Foxley-Conolly will form the experienced core of the squad, having previously competed at Paralympic level, while Cooper Blackwood (3.5) will make his debut.

Australian development coach Jason Lees expects the challenge to be significant, with the sport in Japan enjoying unprecedented popularity after an incredible performance from Katsuya Hashimoto led his country to the Paralympic gold medal in Paris in September.

Hashimoto is now set to torment the Australians once again, after he was named in Japan’s development squad for this series.

The young superstar scored 19 tries as Japan’s key offensive weapon during their emphatic 48-41 victory over the United States in the Paralympic final. He was equally influential 24 hours prior, as Japan orchestrated a heart-stopping one-goal overtime victory over Australia in the semi-final.

“Obviously Hashimoto did some damage during the Paralympics to everyone, not just us,” Lees said. “But we’re looking forward to testing ourselves over there. Going up against their line-ups will definitely provide some really good experiences for this group.” 

“Some of their players have succeeded at the highest level of our sport. That’s obviously an objective of a development tour, to test your squad against quality international talent and to learn as much as possible.

“I honestly think we match up well with them, based on the squad we’ve selected.

“We’re expecting to be very competitive over there and to be part of four really good games.”

Lees said he was particularly looking forward to working with Graham, who is moving into a leadership role with the development team for the first time.

The Melbourne-based librarian, who won a Paralympic bronze medal with the Australian Steelers in Paris, will become the first female to captain an Australian wheelchair rugby team on international soil.

“Shae is a natural leader whose personality is really well-suited to captaincy,” Lees said.

“Unfortunately, she probably didn’t get the opportunity to get as much court time in Paris as she was aiming for, but she will be playing big minutes at this tournament and we’re expecting her to make an impact.

“Everyone loves Shae and with her high level of international experience now, she will be able to share a lot with the newer members of the squad and help make their transition to this level as easy as possible.”

The Australian development will meet in Brisbane on Wednesday for a three-day training camp before departing for Tokyo ahead of their first match on November 18. 

The Shibuya Cup tournament at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Stadium can be streamed via: https://www.youtube.com/@JWRF/streams

Shibuya Cup

Australian Development Squad vs Japan Development Squad

November 18 – 20, 2024

Yoyogi National Stadium – Tokyo, Japan

AUSTRALIA

Andrew Holloway 3.5

Brayden Foxley-Conolly 3.5

Cooper Blackwood 3.5

Robyn Lambird 3.0*

Conor Tweedy 2.5

Shae Graham 2.5* (C)

Jayden Jackson 2.0  (VC)

Lilliana Prucha 2.0*

Tai Martin-Page 1.5

Damien Mortaud 0.5

Mick Ozanne 0.5

By Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia.

Published 11 November, 2024.

Photo credit: Megumi Masuda.