TAMPA, Fla. – It’s loud. It’s rough. And it’s anything but boring.

Wheelchair Rugby is the new kid on the block at the Warrior Games. It has everyone talking thanks to its high-energy, fast-paced excitement.

“The most bananas thing I have ever seen,” said Warrior Games emcee Jon Stewart. “It’s like ‘hey why don’t we just crash into each other. How does that sound?’”  

Stewart isn’t that far off. In its first year as a Warrior Games sport, wheelchair rugby is showing everyone that absolute chaos can be fun.

“We call it ‘Murder Ball’ mainly because it is literally just wheelchairs crashing into each other with a ball associated in there somewhere,” said Major Brigid Baker of Australian Intelligence.  

“It is ridiculous,” said Navy Seaman Steve Davis. “When you get two able-body, or pretty much able-body, people, going as fast as they can to hit each other, it is super exciting. The hits just blow up the crowd, it’s awesome.

“You’re like in bumper cars and you have full control of everything you ever wanted to do as a kid,” said Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Bryon Wulf.

Besides the crashes, wheelchair rugby promotes one of the crucial core values for all of these military athletes – teamwork.

“The cool thing is that it becomes camaraderie – a brotherhood, a sisterhood with the other teams too,” said US Army (ret.) Captain Tim Bomke.

“You really can’t get the ball very far if you don’t have the support of your teammates, and vice versa, so it is a really good team bonding exercise,” said Baker.

The wheelchairs for this sport have an offensive and defensive style chair for the athletes competing. The chairs have wheels tilted in and as for the seat, the athletes say they are a little snug.  

“It hugs you real tight on your hips so you can turn and whatever,” said Wulf. “That side of the chair is where you want to take the hit because it will deflect it like Captain America’s shield.”

“These chairs are really designed and armored to go to your opponent and give them a nice shot,” said Bomke.

Wheelchair rugby has quickly become a fan favorite.

More importantly, it’s allowed these athletes to have a sense of belonging, which is exactly what the Warrior Games are all about.

“Without this environment I think a lot of people would be lost,” said Baker. “You all have that same bond, that same camaraderie, and it’s a really great environment for us all to get together and support one another.”

Wheelchair rugby is part of that Warrior Games family. And it’s proud to say it’s the loud one in the family.