Player 2 And The Canberra Rolling Raiders - The Perfect Match
Here at Player 2, we love to support the community. Over the years we have raised over $25000 for the Terry Campese Foundation through various events and we are always on the lookout for ways we can help out. As the Editor, I have always felt that I should use our small slice of the internet and gaming community to promote, fundraise and support important causes that otherwise might get missed. It is a responsibility I take seriously and one I am always looking to continue. Well, with that in mind, I am more than excited to announce what I believe is a world first for a Video Game publication. Player 2 will be a major sponsor for the Canberra Rolling Raiders Wheelchair Rugby league team.
So why support Wheelchair Rugby League? Well, there are a few reasons. The first is inclusivity. Wheelchair Rugby League is the only team sport played at an international level where anyone can play. Disability, Able Body, Sex, Race or Religion are not important, all are welcome to join in. This has led to some amazing stories like siblings finally being able to play sports together where previously a disability had kept them apart or junior league players joining the Wheelchair competition after a teammate broke his back in a car accident. These stories are not uncommon and it is something that the sport is deservedly proud of.
The second reason is cost. This is an expensive sport. Each chair can cost multiple thousands of dollars and the logistics of the game also come into play. Getting players and their chairs from country regions to locations where facilities exist to play the game is also a costly exercise with the need for a custom trailer to be able to bring all the associated gear. Finally, venue hire is also an expense, the sport requires three basketball courts side-by-side to be played, which limits the available facilities around the country. All of this together means that there are significant hurdles to any Wheelchair Rugby League event and our goal is to help alleviate that, even just a little.
How are we doing this? Well, through some personal fundraising and various local events, Player 2 will be sponsoring the Rolling Raiders for 2025 and 2026. Our money will not only support the main Canberra team, but development of the sport in Canberra and the surrounding regions. We also plan to run a major fundraiser in both 2025 and 2026 (stay tuned for details) to ensure we can cover the required costs.
I also really want to encourage people to go and check out a game live. It is a fantastic sport and most games end with a “come-and-try” session, giving everyone the chance to have a crack (and realise just how tough a game it is.) The draw for this season is below and keep an eye on our Facebook and Bluesky accounts for up-to-date info as it arrives.
This is something I am so excited to be able to support and I hope you, our dear reader, can join us in helping out. If you would like to learn more about Wheelchair Rugby League, please click this link, there is a host of great info on how the sport came about, what the rules are and how to get involved. I have also put a video of the highlights between Australia and England at the 2021 World Cup below (the poms have us in this sport for sure, but we are catching them) just so you can see the game in action. In the meantime, spread the word, tell your buddies and get people interested in the most inclusive sport on the planet.
