GB set for tough test in the Quad Nations

Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby squad will be looking to get 2020 off to a perfect start as they compete in the Quad Nations on their home floor.

Australia and USA will compete against GB in the tournament, which is taking place at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, between February 21-23, with the first game on Friday morning.

Each side will play four games in a round robin before the top points scorer heads straight to the final showdown, where they will face the winner of the second and third place play-off.

With Tokyo 2020 on the horizon, the competition provides plenty of opportunity for those in the GB squad, especially with Australia and the US being ranked number one and two in the world.

And the event will be extra special for Nicholas Cummins, Jamie Stead, Gavin Walker and Jack Smith, as all four play their club rugby for Leicester Tigers, so will be competing in familiar surroundings.

The British team had a warm welcome from Premier League football club Leicester City, who they visited this week, meeting first-team players including Hamza Choudhury and Jamie Vardy.

Both the US and Australia competed in the inaugural tournament in 2018, with the American edging their southern hemisphere counterparts 56-55 in the gold medal match.

In last year’s edition, GB made the final but ultimately lost out 53-51 to Japan and GB head coach Paul Shaw recognises the opportunity the tournament provides.

“It is sure to be an exciting tournament,” said Shaw. “And with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics only months away, we must take every opportunity to test ourselves against the best in the world.”

Quad Nations fixtures

Friday, February 21

11am: USA v Australia

3pm: Great Britain v USA

7pm: Great Britain v Australia

Saturday, February 22

11am: Australia v USA

3pm: Australia v Great Britain

7pm: USA v Great Britain

Sunday, February 23

11am: 2nd v 3rd (winner advances to the final)

3pm: Final