A wheelchair rugby team which won its league last season has been told it may have to forfeit games if it cannot recruit more disabled players.

Gravesend Dynamite Wheelchair Rugby came top of the Rugby League South League in 2016, and its youth teams triumphed in numerous games.

But new rules, revealed just two weeks before the start of this year’s season, state each team must have three disabled players on the court at all times out of a team of four.

Despite having 32 members, 12 of whom are disabled, the Gravesend team will not always be able to do that.

Coach Jason Owen, who founded the team in 2013 after seeing a disabled youngster watching his sporty sibling from the sidelines, said: “We’re not too happy with the new rule. Some more established clubs that have been going much longer than three years are more able to do this but we can’t ensure three disabled players for every game.

“We have worked hard to recruit disabled players but in some games, at some weekends, due to illness, injury, other commitments or wheelchair basketball fixtures we just won’t have three players.

“We went to Hereford last season and had four disabled and one able-bodied players.

“But the week after, one of the disabled players was unwell, one was on holiday and another was playing wheelchair basketball. If the new rules had been in place we wouldn’t have been able to play.

“And if we start the game with three disabled players and one gets injured mid-game, we automatically lose the game even if we are winning 58-12 or something like that.

“Last year we were encouraged to try to fulfil it but it wasn’t required as they were trying to grow the game.

“All our disabled players love the fact the sport is inclusive and they can play alongside able-bodied friends or family members – they are not boxed together with just other disabled people.

“Disabled people can play rugby with the same mates they played with before they had their motorbike accident or went to Afghanistan.

“Everyone in the club loved that the sport used to be all about a level playing field and players, male and female, disabled and able-bodied, youths and adults all participating together so we’re at a loss over the new rules, especially as there has only been two weeks’ notice.”

Children as young as eight practise with Gravesend Dynamite Wheelchair Rugby but they need to be 14 to play competitively.

The team would also like to recruit more girls and women as about 80% of the current cohort is male.

Coach Jason Owen said: “The contact of the chairs coming together can sometimes put people off.

“There are a lot of crashes and smashes but it’s a very safe game. It’s a fantastic sport, very fast-paced and exciting to watch.

“If there’s someone out there that fancies a challenge, we’d love to hear from them.”

Email Wheelchair.rugby@yahoo.co.uk or find Gravesend Dynamite Wheelchair Rugby & Sports Club on Facebook.