ParaFed Otago sport development officer Kelly Nooy said this would be the first time the organisation held a tournament in Otago.
Individuals would sign up and teams would be selected randomly.
Most members of the Otago Wheelchair Rugby Team would be taking part, as well as some members of national team the Wheel Blacks.
One young player on the Otago team is Dylan Lloyd.
His journey started with a Give-it-a-Go day four years ago.
"I basically tried it out and fell in love with the sport, and I have been playing ever since.
"It is a real passion of mine."
The sport had a community feel, he said.
"We are real family-orientated, so you feel like you belong."
He was "rugby mad", so this was his alternate way to get involved with the sport of rugby, Lloyd said.
A highlight was taking part in his first competitive tournament last year as part of the Otago team.
He also enjoyed attending one of the New Zealand Wheel Blacks development camps, which gave him a taste of how the game was played at a national level.
"It kind of gave me more of an idea of the goal that I want to achieve — eventually being a part of the New Zealand team."
A mentor for Lloyd has been Wheel Blacks para athlete Robert Hewitt.
"He has been really supportive of me getting into the sport and teaching me all the things there [are] to know about sport at the high level.
Training for Lloyd included building muscle at the gym.
"Gym is very important as well as training, so not only putting in the work on the court but putting in the work in your own time."
Wheelchair rugby was very physical, and over time Lloyd had became more adept at throwing himself into it.
He was looking forward to the tournament this weekend and hoped it would inspire others not only to play but to also support the local team.
- The 2022 Bash wheelchair rugby tournament starts 10am this Saturday and Sunday at the Edgar Centre’s More FM Arena. Free viewing.
