The new structure will see a Division A, B and C set up and tournaments take place next year with the ultimate goal of qualification for the Paralympic Games.

The first of these is due to take place in Dublin from January 27 to February 1, 2015, and will be the Division C competition for those teams that did not qualify for last year's European Championships in Antwerp, as well as countries that are new to international wheelchair rugby competition.

The provisional list of countries invited to take part include Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain and Ukraine.

The top two finishers in Dublin will qualify for the Division B tournament scheduled for Prague in the Czech Republic from April 11 to 19.

They will be joined by Austria, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland and Switzerland, who finished from seventh to 12 at last year's European Championships.

The top two from here will go on to join the top six-sides from the European Championships in a final Division A competition set to take place in Pajulahti, Finland, from September 13 to 20 next year.

Great Britain have been the best performing European side at Paralympic Games since the sport made its debut at Atlanta 1996 ©Getty Images




Sweden are the reigning European champions after narrowly defeating Denmark in the 2013 gold medal, in what was a repeat of the 2011 final.

Great Britain overcame Germany in the bronze medal match.

Belgium and Finland complete the list of automatic qualifiers for the Division A Championship at which the top two nations will qualify for Rio 2016. 

Great Britain have been the leading European side at the Paralympics since wheelchair rugby made its debut at Atlanta 1996.

The British have finished fourth on three occasions, at Atlanta 1996, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

They were also the highest placed European side at London 2012, finishing fifth.

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