Paralympic team to play at Arafura Games next week

The Australian Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Team has been named for the ARAFURA Games which is being held in Darwin from the 9th May to 17th May 2009 and will see Australia get the chance to avenge its 2007 World Cup defeat to England.

The Australian Paralympic 7-A-Side Football Team has been named for the ARAFURA Games which is being held in Darwin from the 9th May to 17th May 2009 and will see Australia get the chance to avenge its 2007 World Cup defeat to England.

The Australian team will be taking on England, Japan and Korea Republic. It will be the first time the Australian team has faced England since the 2007 CPISRA World Cup where England knocked Australia out of their chance for the 2008 Paralympics Games in China.

The side will arrive in Darwin on the 6th May to begin their preparations, with Australia's first match on Tuesday May 12th against England. The second match will be against Korea Republic the following day and then Japan on the Thursday. All of Australia's games will be played at 6.30pm at the Marrara Hockey Fields in Darwin. Finals will be played on the Saturday (night) and Sunday (morning) to determine the Gold Medal winner.

David Barber has been named captain for the tournament along with Chris Pyne being named Vice Captain.

Jarrod Larkins-Law will be making his international debut at the tournament and is aged on 15. Ben Atkins age 17 and Thomas Goodman (18) will be appearing in their second international competition. These three players are being moulded and developed for the 2012 Paralympics.

The team is as follows:

David Barber - Captain (QLD) Beau Menzies (QLD) Jamie Paulsen (QLD) Jarrod Larkins-Law (QLD) David Cantoni (WA) Thomas Goodman (SA) Chris Pyne - Vice Captain (NSW) Brett Cross (NSW) Brett Fairhall (NSW) Sam Larkings (NSW) Pat Grant (NSW) Ben Atkins (NSW)