Wheelchair Rugby Canada is proud to welcome Paralympian and long-time National Team member Travis Murao as the organization’s new Ontario Hub Coach.

A fixture of Canada’s wheelchair rugby program for nearly two decades, Murao brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and passion for athlete development to his new role. Based in Toronto, he will lead weekly on-court training sessions at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre, support athlete recruitment and testing across Ontario, and collaborate closely with Wheelchair Rugby Canada’s High Performance staff to strengthen the athlete pathway in the province.

For Murao, coaching is a way to give back to the community that has shaped so much of his life and to have a lasting impact on his athletes, just as his coaches and mentors have had on him.

“When I look back on my rugby career, I really understand the value of the veteran players who transitioned into coaching roles,” said Murao. “I was very fortunate to be coached by some of the very best players in the game—Dave Willsie, Garrett Hickling, and Ian Chan really set an example of how you can give back to your sport and support the next generation of high-performance athletes. My inspiration to get into coaching comes from a desire to continue this tradition and honour their legacy.”

Introduced to wheelchair rugby by Duncan Campbell—one of the sport’s original inventors—he began playing while at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Hospital and was immediately drawn to the strategic, intellectual side of the game. Since making his Paralympic debut in 2012, he has represented Canada at four Paralympic Games and three Parapan American Games, earning one Paralympic medal and multiple podium finishes on the international stage.

Now, as Ontario Hub Coach, Murao is focused on creating a positive training environment for all athletes.

“Sport, and in particular para-sport can be such a powerful tool for personal growth.” he shared. “Communication, teamwork, mental and physical resiliency; there’s so many lessons to be learned through sport but one of the key values I’m hoping to bring to my position is inclusivity.  I understand how strong a team can be when every member of the team feels valued and empowered.”

Murao will also play a key role in identifying and developing emerging athletes across Ontario. For him, the most important traits often go beyond athletic metrics.

“People can get caught up in some of the objective features that make up a great athlete,” said Murao. “Size, speed, and function are all qualities to look for, but I’ve found determination and resilience to be just as important. I’ve always loved the quote, ‘It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.’”

Looking ahead, Murao is eager to build on the momentum of Ontario’s wheelchair rugby community and contribute to the sport’s continued growth.

“I’m really excited to see our sport grow and develop in Ontario,” he said. “We’ve seen huge growth in the women’s game and in junior sport programming across Canada, and I’m excited to see that continue here.”

Travis’s appointment as Ontario Hub Coach marks an important step in developing the next generation of Canadian wheelchair rugby talent, supporting athletes as they progress from provincial programs to the national stage.