For Beau Vernon, his recent selection in the Australian Wheelchair Rugby team, the Steelers, is a far cry from the world of Aussie Rules football he knows so well. 

For the past eight years, Beau has been the senior coach of Leongatha and then Phillip Island football clubs. 

His reputation as a coach saw both sides appear in consecutive grand finals, bringing home a total of three premiership flags.

This was no mean feat for a sportsman whose playing days ended dramatically with an on-field collision in June 2012 that rendered him a quadriplegic.

Now he ponders what lies ahead and how it s taken him further than he ever imagined.

Beau was introduced to wheelchair rugby while in rehab through a former Olympian Naz Erdem, a gold and silver medallist. He became interested in the game as it is one of the few team sports suited to quadriplegics.

It allows for four players on the court at any one time and with a combined tally of eight points. Each player is classified according to their disability with the highest functioning players rated at 3.5, and people like Beau, at 1 or .5 of a point.

Beau feels his coaching experience has helped him.

Since I left coaching last year I m really enjoying my rugby, and even though I don t get the ball often, I m more aware of my role within the team as opposed to how often I get the ball,  he said.

Move to Queensland

At the beginning of this year Beau and his wife Lucy and three children Layla 7, Joey 5 and Ollie 3, moved to the warmer climate of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

It s a move that has allowed him time to reconnect with the rugby fraternity and to try his luck in being selected to a team.

He now travels to Brisbane twice a week for training and takes up as many opportunities as possible to better his skills.

This included being part of the Victorian team in the national championships held in June, where the team were runners-up to NSW.

This experience spurred Beau on to bigger things. 

It culminated recently when he was named in the Australian team to compete in the World Wheelchair Rugby Championships to be held in Paris in October.

It s exciting to be selected and I feel humbled and honoured to be playing with the best in the sport, and to be pulling on the green and gold,  Beau said.

As a warm-up to Paris, the team flew last week to Christchurch, NZ, to compete in the country s national championships.

Added to this excitement is the fact this is the first time Beau has competed internationally.

While he is taking one game at a time, Beau is enthused with the opportunities that await him and has his eyes set on next year s Olympic Games to be held in Paris.

He is aware of the support he has both on and off the court. 

I am very fortunate with the people supporting me. I know I m taking time away from my family but at the same time, I want to show my kids you have to work hard towards your goals.