Chess with Violence

August 19, 2004 8:42 AM

Just because you're in a wheelchair doesn't mean you can't have a ruck. Browsing our current favourite website I found myself intrigued. This year's paralympics will again feature Wheelchair Rugby, a sport that has been alternatively described as 'Chess with Violence'. The rules are explained here though I think you might have to actually see a game to figure out how they would work in practice.
posted by biffa (8 comments total)

Doesn't the definition of Rugby include "loss of blood"? As long as you have that It's Rugby!
posted by tommasz at 8:51 AM on August 19, 2004

I was curious, so I googled up a video:
MPG here

I'm a little confused though, since the rules say "quadriplegics", which I thought meant your arms were non-functional. Yet the rules mention passing, and the guys in the video seem to have working arms.
posted by malphigian at 9:42 AM on August 19, 2004

South Park reference.

/inappropriate
posted by asok at 9:53 AM on August 19, 2004

Chess with Violence.
posted by euphorb at 9:57 AM on August 19, 2004

Quadriplegia can be incomplete.
posted by joeclark at 11:19 AM on August 19, 2004

Really cool! And neat that it's so well supported. Thanks, biffa. And thanks, malphigian, for the mpg. Wow.
posted by lobakgo at 1:48 PM on August 19, 2004

I'm a little confused though, since the rules say "quadriplegics", which I thought meant your arms were non-functional.

I was wondering about that myself, it does say that players are "quadriplegics (limited or no function in four limbs; or limited or no function in 3 of 4 limbs and trunk)." but also that players have to use manual wheelchairs, it would be interesting to see how this works in practice.
posted by biffa at 2:39 AM on August 20, 2004

So is there a separate tournament for parapelegics? Is this like a crips vs. bloods thing?
posted by Space Coyote at 4:06 AM on August 20, 2004