Aussie Howe eyes Paralympic gold in wheelchair rugby, but first the Hong Kong Sevens

Fourteen years after a freak accident left him paralysed, the formidable Jake Howe is plotting to upgrade his Paralympics bronze from 2024 and win a second World Wheelchair Rugby Championships title later this year.

Part of the Australian team that triumphed in this week’s inaugural Hong Kong 5s at Kai Tak Arena, Howe began playing the sport within one year of sustaining his injury.

“I’ve always had a positive outlook,” he said. “My partner at the time was three months pregnant, so you’re not going to give up for your son, let alone yourself.

“The contact drew me to this sport, the quads hitting, the running into each other, then you learn the tactics over time, which makes it better.”

Howe was a runner through primary school, then played Australian rules football from eight until 15, when he began a carpentry apprenticeship.

“I finished that at 18, so I was a tradesman for a couple of years and I’ve always had really good hand-eye coordination,” he said. “I was climbing trees and walking around on roofs, so [athleticism] is in my nature.”

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