The Jacksonville Axemen will start their 2008 events by volunteering at the inaugural Brooks Rehabilitation Southern Slam Quad Rugby Tournament that will be held in Jacksonville on the weekend of Jan 11/12/13.

Talks have been taking place between the Bandits and the Axemen for the last few months and with the profile of Rugby about to get a local boost with the Australia Day Challenge the Axemen hope to help the profile of these amazing athletes.

Axemen coach Spinner Howland said that a trial match between the Axemen and the Bandits is already being planned. "This would have to be one of the best opportunities for our guys to have a life experience game. Once you see the incredible skills that these guys can achieve from a wheel chair, you cannot help but be inspired. Our younger players could really learn from this."

The Inaugural Brooks Rehabilitation Southern Slam Quad Rugby Tournament is fast approaching! More than 80 wheelchair athletes on eight teams from all over the country will come together January 11-13, 2008, at the Jacksonville Indoor Sports Arena (www.jaxindoorsports.com) for some hard-hitting, fast and fun competition.  

Quad rugby is a full contact wheelchair sport played on a modified basketball court by players with a physical disability effecting all 4 limbs. It was originally known as Murderball because of its aggressive nature. The sport was developed in Canada in 1981 and is now an official Paralympic sport played internationally with 45 teams in the United States alone. Quad rugby, Murderball or wheelchair rugby… whatever you call it, it is exciting and the fastest growing wheelchair sport in the world! 

Tournament Schedule:
Friday, January 11, 2008          12:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 12, 2008   12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 13, 2008   9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

Mark your calendars to come see the excitement and cheer the Brooks Bandits onto victory as they compete in their first tournament. Two Florida teams are participating, in addition to ones from Maine, Texas, Philadelphia and North Carolina.