Benoit Labrecque in live presentation | Photo: CARL Playback/YouTube

The Brazilian Wheelchair Rugby Association (ABRC) announced the change of technical command of the rugby team last Tuesday (3). Responsible for commanding the team that qualified for the World Cup, in an unprecedented way, coach Rafael Gouveia leaves the post. Canadian Benoit Labrecque takes his place, after having held the same position between 2013 and 2014.

Benoit has over 20 years experience in wheelchair rugby. He coached Canada, Switzerland, Sweden and Finland. With the selection of his country, he was bronze medalist at the World Cup in New Zealand, in 2006, and at the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2008. In addition, Benoit was vice-champion of Europe in front of Sweden , in 2015, in Finland.

Brazil in victory against Switzerland at the World Cup in October 2022. Photo: Disclosure/Thelma Vidales/ABRC

“I’m really happy to work with the Brazilian team again. I received the invitation with great satisfaction. Many Brazilian athletes already know me, because of my reputation or because I faced them at a moment. It’s a pleasure to return to Brazil,” said the captain.

Apart from Rafael, Gustavo de Cruz Almeida, Brian Muniz and Tomasz Bidus also left the national team. Last October, Brazil played in the Wheelchair Rugby World Cup for the first time in their history and finished in 11th place out of 12 entries. The competition took place in Vejle, Denmark.

The new technical staff, led by Benoit, will already lead the first week of training for the national team next month, between the 12th and the 18th. During his presentation, the coach announced a list of players called up for the activity :

Gabriel Simplicio – Gigantes/SP

Bruno Landgraff – Ronins/SP

Cauê Borges Maia – Ronins/SP

Gilson Wirzma Jr. -Santer/RJ

Lucas Junqueira – Ronins/SP

Wellerson D’amato – BSB/DF

Julierme Augusto – Minas/MG

Mauricio Vieira – Irefes/ES

Raphael Cardoso – Gladiators/RP

Davidson Daniel – BSB/DF

Victor Vinicius – Irefes/ES

Anderson Kaiss – Gladiators/RP

David de Abreu – Minas/MG

Giuliano de Castro – Santer/RJ

Leonardo Gomes dos Santos – Irefes/ES

Marcílio Nunes dos Santos – Ronins/SP

Rafael Hoffmann – Gigantes/SP

Thiago Falconi – Minas/MG

Alexandre Taniguchi – Ronins/SP

Bruno Damaceno – Adeacamp/SP

Daniel Gonçalves – Santer/RJ

Jairo da Conceicao – Adeacamp/SP

Moisés Batista – Gladiadores/PR

Rodolfo Polidoro – Gigantes/SP

Alexandre Giuriato – Gigantes/SP

Matheus Soares – BSB/DF

Gabriel Feitosa – Santer/RJ

Julio Braz – Minas/MG

Thalys Juca Silva – Gigantes/SP