International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) – Duncan Campbell was inducted into the newly established IWRF Hall of Fame during the Awards Banquet of the Canada Cup International Wheelchair Rugby Tournament on June 17, 2018, in Richmond, British Columbia. Fondly known as the “Quad Father”, Campbell is one of the original creators of Wheelchair Rugby in 1976, and is still very active in the sport today.

As a young athlete in Winnipeg, Canada, Campbell created the sport of Wheelchair Rugby with a group of friends. He developed the basic rules and regulations of the game, and assured that the sport was designed so that quadriplegics, and others with high level disabilities, would have a sport that they could call their own. In 1977, he introduced the sport at a multi-sport/multi disability event in Edmonton, Canada, and convinced a number of other provinces to put teams together. Two years later Canada held their first National Championship, and in 1981 the first teams in the United States began to form. In 1982, the University of North Dakota held the first International Wheelchair Rugby tournament with teams competing from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, North Dakota and Minnesota. Wheelchair Rugby soon spread internationally, first to Great Britain and Australia and then around the world. Wheelchair Rugby has been a Paralympic Games sport since 2000 and is currently played in over 40 countries.

As Wheelchair Rugby grew and developed, Duncan stayed involved as a player, coach, recruiter, and organizer. He mentored many of Canada’s top Wheelchair Rugby players. He served as Development Director for the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association and is currently a Director of the International Wheelchair Rugby Federation. He helped organize the 2010 Wheelchair Rugby World Championship as well as numerous local and international tournaments. Through his work as a recreational therapist at Vancouver’s G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, he introduced countless numbers of Canadians to wheelchair sports and given them the motivation and inspiration they need to succeed in life and in sport.

“It is a huge honor to be the first person inducted into the IWRF Hall of Fame,” said Duncan. “I am so very proud of how far this Canadian made game has come from its humble beginnings in 1977. The players now are truly athletes who train hard, compete hard, and yet maintain the rugby social community off the court. It has been fantastic to experience this development from the start until now.”

Duncan was inducted into the Canadian Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame in 2005 and British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. In 2013 he received the Paralympic Order from the International Paralympic Committee.

Duncan lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife Lara and daughters Macy and Kenzie, where he remains active with his local and provincial Wheelchair Rugby teams.

PHOTO INFORMATION
Campbell (1) – Duncan Campbell at the Hall of Fame induction, June 17, 2018. (Credit Kevin Bogetti-Smith)

Campbell (2) – Duncan Campbell, Wheelchair Rugby Canada CEO Cathy Cadieux, and IWRF CEO Eron Main at the Hall of Fame induction, June 17, 2018. (Credit Kevin Bogetti-Smith)

Campbell (3) – Duncan Campbell (centre) with fellow Wheelchair Rugby founders. (Credit Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association)

Campbell (4) – Duncan Campbell (Credit Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association)

About the IWRF Hall of Fame
The IWRF Hall of Fame is sponsored by Vesco Metal Craft, and was established to enshrine the names and history of those individuals who have excelled as athletes, and or have made major contributions to better our sport and or federation. The Hall of Fame members inducted in 2018 were selected by the IWRF Board of Directors; however, future nominees will be solicited directly from the IWRF global community. IWRF Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies will take place every two years, and be held in conjunction with major IWRF tournaments or general assemblies. Complete details on how the IWRF Hall of Fame will operate will be posted on the IWRF website in the coming months.

About the IWRF 
The International Wheelchair Rugby Federation (IWRF) is the governing body responsible for the sport of wheelchair rugby. Our mission is to grow and support the global Wheelchair Rugby Family, with a vision to be a world leader in wheelchair sport. For more information please visit our website at www.iwrf.com or email info@iwrf.com