The reduced list of 14 athletes heading to Leicester will form the core of the Rollers team and from this tournament, the final team for the Rio Paralympics in September will be chosen.

The player selections for this tour were described by Rollers coach Ben Ettridge as the most difficult the coaching staff had performed in years with the entire squad playing at an exceptional level at the first camp.

“We had a great week at the Centre of Excellence,” said Ettridge.

“The boys were all in excellent shape and playing some great ball. Without doubt, the work they are doing is paying off and I am very proud of all of them.

“As far as selection goes, the boys who missed out on this tour did everything they could to push for selection and at the end of the day, we have selected the best 14 guys to take on the teams at the Continental Clash.”

The Rollers will fly to Great Britain on June 27 before they compete against Japan, USA, Netherlands and 2012 gold medallists Canada.

“The tour of Great Britain will give us the international competition we need to prepare for Rio,” said Ettridge.

Australia’s full schedule can be found below with all times AEST:

Saturday July 2: Australia v Japan at 9:00pm
Sunday July 3: Australia v Great Britain at 4:45am
Sunday July 3: Australia v Netherlands at 9:00pm
Monday July 4: Australia v USA at 9:00pm
Tuesday July 5: Australia v Canada at 6:45pm

The Australian Rollers team for the 2016 Continental Clash in Leicester, Great Britain:

Josh Allison                       Kilsyth Cobras | VIS

Michael Auprince             Wollongong Rollerhawks | NSWIS

Jannik Blair                       Red Dust Heelers | VIS

Adam Deans                      Red Dust Heelers | WAIS

Tristan Knowles               Kilsyth Cobras | VIS

Bill Latham                        Queensland Spinning Bullets | QAS

Matt McShane                  Queensland Spinning Bullets | QAS

Brad Ness                           Red Dust Heelers | WAIS

Shaun Norris                     Perth Wheelcats | WAIS

Tom O’Neill-Thorne        Queensland Spinning Bullets | QAS

Shawn Russell                   Kilsyth Cobras | VIS

Tige Simmons                    Queensland Spinning Bullets | QAS

Brett Stibners                    Wollongong Rollerhawks | NSWIS

Sam White                          Wollongong Rollerhawks | SASI

Australian Rollers Men Tour staff

Head Coach                                        Ben Ettridge

Assistant Coaches                            Luke Brennan

Technical Assistant                          Jeremy Synot

Physiotherapist                                Jesse Adams

National Program Manager         Leigh Gooding

Media contact:

Lisa Hasker
GM – Community and Stakeholder Relations
Basketball Australia
Mobile: 0418 194 933
Email: lisa.hasker@basketball.net.au