Up until now the sport that inspired a film called 'Murder Ball' has been dominated by men, but wheelchair rugby has finally found its feminine side.
Maia Amai is a member of the NZ Wheelblacks and comes from a very football-focused family: her cousin is NRL star, Benji Marshall.
"It's the toughest and best...I love it," says Maia Amai.
Maia was in a car fire aged 18 months and a subsequent spinal infection left her paralysed. She loves being the only woman in a male dominated sport.
"I've been knocked heaps of times.......its nothing...I can handle it."
Cousin Benji says throughout his stellar career which has included premiership wins and World Cup victories, Maia has been his greatest inspiration.
"You can be disabled in a wheelchair and still do whatever you'd like to do so I think from that point of view, what I'm most proud of her for is achieving her goals and living her dream and she's always wanted to do this so I'm very happy for her," he said.
"Throughout all our lives growing up she was always the most competitive in everything she does ...so I think what she's doing in terms of encouraging more women to play wheelchair rugby is great."
The National Wheelchair Rugby Championship is in full swing at Sydney Olympic Park, and New Zealand has been invited to play to provide greater competition and grow the sport both here and across the Tasman.
