Out went the old pitch after the ‘Road to Principality 2023’ finals and a new surface was created for the wheelchair event. The competition runs until Sunday, 7 May and it is the first time Great Britain has hosted the European Championship.
A view of the reconfigured Principality Stadium
The eight best teams in Europe will compete over five consecutive days to see who will be crowned European champions. The tournament is also a qualifier for the 2024 Paralympics with the top two teams being guaranteed a ticket to Paris.
Given France is hosting the Games in 2024, their team is automatically qualified, so if they occupy one of the top two places the third best side will get a place.
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GB, the reigning Paralympic champions from Tokyo in 2021, have been drawn alongside Denmark, Switzerland and Israel in Pool B with France in Pool A facing Germany, the Netherlands and Czech Republic.
The British squad lost their European crown to France in February last year before finishing seventh at the World Championship in October.
“We’re looking forward to getting our own back on France for what happened last year,” said GB head coach Paul Shaw, whose side is currently ranked third in the world.
Having won the three previous European titles, it was a shock to the system when the French pipped them 44-43 in Paris last year to knock them off their perch.
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“There was always going to be a transition after the Tokyo Paralympics, but we’re ready now and we’re looking forward to the event in Cardiff. Europe is getting very strong on the world stage and we won’t take anything for granted,” added Grant.
“But we’re going into the tournament confident of getting the results we need to qualify for the Paralympics.”
Team GB secured a tense 54-49 victory over the USA to win their first wheelchair rugby gold at a Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Welshman Jim Roberts was the top scorer with 24 tries as his side secured an historic win at the Yoyogi National Stadium. Britain had previously lost bronze-medal play-offs at the 2004 and 2008 Games.
Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby has pledged to deliver “the ultimate experience for athletes, fans, volunteers and partners” while “creating a legacy of more people playing, volunteering and supporting” the sport at the championship this week.
“I can’t put into words how much we’re all looking forward to playing at the Principality Stadium. It’s a great opportunity to play at such an amazing venue,” said GB player Stuart Robinson.
Jonathan Coggan is the most decorated member of the 11-strong GB squad. He is one of seven surviving members of the Tokyo Games gold medal winning team and this will be his 10th European Championships.
The team representing Great Britain at the 2023 European Championship is:
Stuart Robinson (Classification: 3.5 – West Coast WRC)
Aaron Phipps (3.5 – London)
Jamie Stead (2.5 – Leicester Tigers)
Gavin Walker (2.0 – Leicester Tigers)
Kieran Flynn (2.0 – Leicester Tigers)
David Ross (2.0 – London)
Coral Batey (2.0 – North East Bulls)
Nick Cummins (1.5 – Leicester Tigers)
Jack Smith (0.5 – Leicester Tigers)
Daniel Kellett (0.5 – West Coast)
Jonathan Coggan (0.5 – London)
Pool Matches
Wednesday, 3 May
Great Britain 55-32 Israel
Thursday, 4 May
Switzerland v Great Britain (13:00)
Friday, 5 May 19:30
Great Britain v Denmark (19:30)
Saturday, 6 May – Semi-Finals
Sunday, 7 May – Medal & Placement Matches
