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Later this month in Paris, over 4000 amazing athletes will compete across 22 sports in the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Back in Australia there’s another inspiring group of athletes playing a modified version of rugby league that requires equal parts courage, skill and athleticism. The game is Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL), and for more than a decade the NSWPDRL has staged its competition in western Sydney at Cabramatta’s New Era Stadium.
Rugby league is an incredibly inclusive game. Its many variants, such as PDRL, tag, touch footy, wheelchair, Trytime, nines, masters, and mini and mod footy, are indicative of how it has adapted to involve an ever broadening community.
George Tonna
Founded by George Tonna in 2010, with the first Sydney competition kicking off in 2012, PDRL is played at a local, state and international level, and it’s a game that deserves further growth, recognition and support.
As far as the rules are concerned, most have been modified to cater for those with a physical disability that affects their strength, speed or coordination.
Roosters and Rabbitohs collide
Eight of the ten impairment classes in the Paralympic Movement are eligible to play PDRL, including impaired muscle power, athetosis (abnormal muscle contraction), impaired passive range of movement, hypertonia (stiff muscle tone which limits movement), limb deficiency, ataxia (loss of muscle control), leg length difference and short stature.
The Jets on the attack against the Roosters
The most common disabilities of participants include conditions such as cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury (ABI) and stroke.
Given that every team includes a range of different impairments across the playing group, a classification system exists to cater for those who can play full contact (black shorts) and those who play under touch football conditions (red shorts).
The Tigers hit it up
In Australia, teams are restricted to nine a side (men and women can play in the same team), with the field width narrowed. There is no turnover from a knock on, with such errors resulting in a play the ball. Kicks can only occur on the last tackle.
The NSWPDRL Sydney competition currently includes four teams, the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers, and Newtown Jets. Prior to the Covid pandemic, the competition also included the Parramatta Eels and Manly Sea Eagles.
Unfortunately, neither the Eels nor Sea Eagles have been able to return to competition play. Given that matches are mostly staged in the Parramatta catchment area, we see it as essential for an Eels team to again be involved.
Another reason to see the Eels represented in the PDRL is the tremendous new community facility at Kellyville, a venue that would be ideal to host some rounds.
PDRL has expanded its horizons over the years, taking off in New Zealand from 2015, and in England in 2018. The expansion saw the inaugural PDRL World Cup staged in England in October 2022, with the English side emerging victorious.
Adam Hills in action for Australia
Australian comedian, Adam Hills, plays PDRL in England and his documentary “Adam Hills: Grow Another Foot” chronicled his journey for selection in the Australian team, and then how the World Cup unfolded. It’s a must watch to understand what playing rugby league means to these footballers.
On the local front, since 2014 the PDRL has included an annual Indigenous Combined Nations vs NSWPDRL All Stars clash. There have also been NSW Kangas vs Queensland Roos matches, though the evolution to an Origin fixture held as a curtain raiser to State of Origin is definitely a goal.
The 2024 Indigenous Combined Nations and NSWPDRL teams
We recently recorded a podcast with players and officials from the PDRL. George Tonna, Che Fornusek, Joel Pragnell, Todd Dorward and Rebecca Coppe took us through the rules, logistics, history, and current season as well as each of their personal journeys and ambitions for the game. Their passion for rugby league is a feature of the conversation.
Joel, Rebecca, Che, George, Todd
I highly recommend having a listen to what rugby league means to them, and the importance of growing the game.
If you’d like to become involved as a player, volunteer or sponsor, you can hit the link here for the official website and socials. Alternatively, you can contact The Cumberland Throw and we’ll put you in touch with PDRL organisers.
The opportunity to grow the game, especially in the Parramatta catchment, cannot be allowed to pass. Let’s get behind this terrific group of people and the wonderful game that they represent.
Sixties
Hopefully the PDRL can get an Eels team back in their competition. Ultimately it relies on volunteers as much as players. I’d love to see the Eels get behind them to help make it happen.