Wheel Blacks call on Kiwi support — rare shot at the big stage

International sport is hitting the Wellington region this week as the Wheel Blacks aim to qualify for August's Paralympics in Paris.

Eight teams will compete for the final three World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR) Paralympic qualification spots including Australia, Canada, Germany, Brazil, Colombia, Switzerland, Netherlands and hosts New Zealand.

"Hopefully, we get some good crowds," says co-captain Cameron Leslie.

"We often face international teams with their crowds behind them so it's time for us to get a hostile crowd that gets behind us."

The Wheel Blacks haven't competed on home soil since 2017. Before that, it was 2009, making the tournament held at the New Zealand Campus for Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Upper Hutt, a rare occurrence.

"It'll be hard, we have some opposition we are ahead of and then there's a cluster in the middle which makes it hard for us because we're part of it but as long as we take care of our processes we should be fine," says Leslie.

It's also a chance for the Halberg Para Athlete of the Year to make a Paralympic return, aiming to compete in Paris both in Swimming and Wheelchair Rugby after sitting out the Tokyo games three years ago.

"It's always been a dream of mine, since I started with Wheelchair Rugby, to do two sports at a Paralympic games and hopefully this year is the year."

His young family, the biggest driver for Leslie.

"To see dad do some cool things on the international stage I think makes it even more special for me," says the Wheel Blacks co-captain.

Fellow leader in command Cody Everson says it's unique opportunity for their game.

"Paris isn't far away, qualifying here would be unreal and I feel we have the team to do it."

"I want to help lead this team to great things and I know we're young so we have a bright future, so if we qualify it means resources, people might want to get behind who may have never seen the sport," says Everson.

Wheelchair Rugby certainly has impressed a few of the locals around NZCIS as teams begin to acclimatise.

The Upper Hutt facility, used during the Women's FIFA World Cup last year by Sweden, is now permanently inhabited by the Wellington Phoenix and Hurricanes sides.

The site's indoor artificial field, reconverted by organisers with donated materials from across the country.

The Wheel Blacks invited Hurricanes assistant coach and former All Black Cory Jane to their jersey presentation.

"I got a message last week and it was a 'yup' straight away. I love seeing New Zealand teams compete on the world stage," says Jane.

"Any time you put a silver fern on as a Kiwi there's pride and hard work but not just from the athlete but friends and family and you respect that, it shows New Zealand is a competitive bunch."

New Zealand were crowned gold medallists back in 2004 and have also claimed two bronze medals in 1996 and 2000.