'Murderball': Medal hopes for GB in Wheelchair Rugby

Great Britain's Steve Brown carries the ball forward during a London 2012 Wheelchair Rugby Test Event. Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Wheelchair Rugby is one of the most hotly-anticipated events at London's Paralympics and Great Britain have a real chance of medal success.

Nicknamed 'murderball', tickets to the action sold out within three days of going on sale.

Bodily contact is banned, but, to the delight of spectators, competitors can - and do - hit each others' wheelchairs in an attempt to gain possession.

Wheelchair Rugby

  • 11 players make up the 2012 GB Wheelchair Rugby team

  • Six of those players make their Paralympic debut in London

  • The sport is mixed sex - but Kylie Grimes is the only female on the team

  • GB won European Gold in 2003, 2005 and 2007

  • GB came fifth in the 2010 World Championships

GB captain Steve Brown

Great Britain captain Steve Brown, who represents Kent Crusaders, was an area manager for a holiday company when he broke his neck after falling from a hotel balcony on holiday in Germany.

His physiotherapist took him to see Wheelchair Rugby and he was hooked.

His weekly routine includes four training sessions, two swims and six gym workouts.

He says being national captain is a "humbling position to be in."

"The people who inspired me and the people I was looking at as role models - I'm now captain of that team," he says.

The action gets underway on Wednesday 5th September, with the Gold medal-winning team crowned on Sunday 9th.

GB's highest point scorer Aaron Phipps, 29, from Southampton, says other countries see the home nation as a threat despite being a relatively new team:

ITV News Correspondent Lewis explains the rules to Wheelchair Rugby: