The 2023 European Championship today announces its team of 24 officials, including 10 from Great Britain, who will be working at May’s event. The international team will be flying in from 12 countries around the world, from Belgium and Germany to the US and Argentina.
The group of highly experienced officials already know a thing or two about wheelchair rugby in Wales, with many also officiating at the King Power Quad Nations back in September – where the event was held on Welsh soil for the very first time!
Ahead of the event, Head Official David Woods said: “We’re delighted to have such a fantastic and experienced team of officials for the European Championship this May.
“Many of the team officiated at the Quad Nations back in September, so they’ve had a taste of wheelchair rugby in Wales already – we’re raring to go now and excited to see the sport on such an amazing stage as the Principality Stadium.”
Referee Mateus Campana added:
“I’m looking forward to an excellent championship – I think this year’s event will be a milestone for wheelchair rugby worldwide after two very unusual years. I’m excited personally to reconnect with the great friends that wheelchair rugby has given me – I worked with Head Table Official Simon Starr during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where I acted as one of the national technical officials. It will be a pleasure for me to return to the UK after ten years and get to know the beautiful city of Cardiff. I think the event is set to be truly epic!”
Here is the full list of officials:
| Role | Name | Country |
| Head Official | David Woods | GBR |
| Evaluator | Kerin Banfield | USA |
| Evaluator | Ulrica Ulfson | SWE |
| Game Commissioner | Benjamin Weiss | GER |
| Game Commissioner | Hannah Aldridge | GBR |
| Referee | Kristin Hempfling | GER |
| Referee | Kathi Adler | AUT |
| Referee | Yun Ho Kim | KOR |
| Referee | Elwira Zielska | POL |
| Referee | Paulina Szmit | LUX |
| Referee | Diego Ceballos | ARG |
| Referee | Alicja Pawlik | POL |
| Referee | Mateus Campana | BRA |
| Head Table Official | Simon Starr | GBR |
| Table Official | Heather Williams | GBR |
| Table Official | Sue Aldridge | GBR |
| Table Official | Jana Slavickova | CZE |
| Table Official | Karolina Motejlkova | BEL |
| Table Official | Dale Thompson | GBR |
| Table Official | Rebecca Lord | GER |
| Table Official | Catriona Brown | GBR |
| Table Official | Gary Spratt | GBR |
| Table Official | Kate Planeta | GBR |
| Table Official | Sandra Jones | GBR |
Don’t forget that the early bird sale is still on here, until Tuesday, 31 January – email subscribers can enjoy a smashing 10% off ticket prices!
