Vernon named for Paralympics debut in Paris

THE Australian wheelchair rugby team named a 12-player squad in Melbourne on Wednesday last week for the Paralympics next month in Paris and picked to make his Paralympic debut is former Phillip Island local Beau Vernon.

His selection comes at the end of a massive campaign to gain Australian selection at a Paralympics, including 16 appearances with the ‘Steelers’, after a stellar football career, especially as a premiership coach at Leongatha and Phillip Island.

The news that Beau has gained selection has been warmly welcomed by his many friends throughout the Australian sporting scene and will no doubt bring with it additional support for the Steelers to return to their gold medal-winning best.

In an interview with the Sentinel-Times Beau shared “I’m proud to be making my Paralympic debut and to be a part of this great Australian Steelers wheelchair rugby team.” 

“To represent your country, it’s extremely humbling and exciting,” Beau said. 

Beau’s family will be travelling to France to support him in representing Australia.

“It’s probably a big motivating factor for me in pursuing wheelchair rugby, just showing my kids that if you are passionate about something and work hard – you can go after what you love.” 

Beau began playing in 2013 after rehab and played for two years before going down the path of football. However, once his life had a little more flexibility and he finished coaching he could give the sport more of his time; taking it back up a year and a half ago. 

“It fast-tracked quickly for me, I had the experience behind me and kept myself strong. I play three times a week on the court, complete weight training twice a week and hand cycle on weekends,” said Beau. 

Beau and his family moved to the Sunshine Coast a year and a half ago but said, “Phillip Island will always feel like home.” 

The squad is led by experienced superstars Ryley Batt and Chris Bond, who were both members of the gold medal-winning Steelers teams at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games and have played a combined total of 594 matches for Australia.

The five debutants joining the team are Brayden Foxley-Conolly, Beau Vernon, Emilie Miller, James McQuillan and Josh Nicholson and with a record three female athletes, Emilie Miller, Shae Graham and Ella Sabljak, who competed at Tokyo 2020 in wheelchair basketball.

Bond when asked if he had the team he wanted for the task ahead, said: “Absolutely”.

“This team is not too dissimilar from the team at our last major tournament win, the World Championships two years ago. There are a couple of additions and adjustments. I think this is the strongest Australian squad I believe we’ve ever had in wheelchair rugby.”