a female wheelchair rugby player playing in a match

Image provided by D Echelard / WWR.

Loughborough University researchers collaborate with World Wheelchair Rugby

Over the last several months, Loughborough University research has been taking place to support World Wheelchair Rugby’s (WWR) commitment and strategy to increasing female participation in the sport.

Co-led by Professor Vicky Tolfrey and Dr Thomas Rietveld of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, the results of the research will help ensure the International Rules of the sport support female athletes and Wheelchair Rugby as a sport open to all genders.

WWR President Richard Allcroft said: “Our sport has had a competition rule for many years allowing an increase in points for each female athlete on court and it was accepted that it was a good concept.

"The outcomes of the research now support our International Rules, and it demonstrates the importance of research in shaping projects and strategies. I'd like to thank the Peter Harrison Centre for their continued support with Wheelchair Rugby and the wider Paralympic Movement. I'd also like to thank our Member Nation, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby for providing resources to allow this project to take place."

Dr Thomas Rietveld said: "Working towards evidence-based research in Wheelchair Rugby is essential for participation and equity. Our research has shown a disparity in muscle strength between females and males. This affects the ability to perform key Wheelchair Rugby performance activities, like blocking, picking, and hitting. It would be advised to reconsider the current competition rule for female Wheelchair Rugby players.”

In Wheelchair Rugby, teams of four players on court cannot exceed 8.0 classification points. 

The World Wheelchair Rugby International Rule’s currently allows competing teams an additional 0.5 points for every female athlete on-court. Successful teams balance the roles of low-point (1.5 and below) and high-point (2.0 and above) athletes to ensure both defensive and offensive opportunities. 

The sport of wheelchair rugby is open to all genders, and it is important that athletes are not considered to have reduced levels of classification. This undermines the classification system and in many cases an athlete’s ability. 

For more information on the study, visit the Peter Harrison Centre website: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/phc/impact/female-participation-wheelchair-rugby/

For all the latest Loughborough news around major global sporting events, visit the University’s dedicated website here: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/sport/athletes-global-stage/

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Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 24/139

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2024 QS World University Rankings – the eighth year running – and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2024 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

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