'I shouldn't have made it out alive': Meet the USA army vet preparing for the World Cup

“The day I lost my leg was the worst day of my life. I shouldn't have made it out alive.”

Sixteen years after having his leg blown off in Afghanistan, returned veteran Andy Kingsley is preparing to serve his country again - trading in the camouflage for Team USA colours.  

“I loved serving my country, so being able to wear a USA uniform and represent my country once again is a huge honour,” Kingsley told NRL.com as he prepares for the IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup kicking off in Wollongong on October 30.

Having first played Wheelchair Rugby League in 2022, Kingsley credits the sport with restoring the sense of purpose and structure he lost after his devastating injury.

After returning from Afghanistan, he struggled to reconnect with everyday life, carrying experiences that few around him could fully understand.

“I was struck by an 88-millimetre recoilless rifle round, which took off my right leg on the battlefield," Kingsley said.

“The emotional challenges were harder for me to overcome than the physical stuff. I thought I’d never do anything big or important in my life ever again.”

Having played American football growing up, combined with the military's emphasis on physical fitness, Kingsley craved the opportunity to be competitive again.

Searching for an accessible sport that offered the physical intensity he was accustomed to, Kingsley discovered Wheelchair Rugby League after relocating to South Carolina to access better healthcare facilities.

Introduced to the sport by WheelHawks captain Jesse Lind, his Wheelchair Rugby League journey quickly snowballed and he is now set to play in his second World Cup.

“After that first practice and day of playing, I was absolutely hooked," he said.

Kingsley believes that Wheelchair Rugby League has filled a void that nearly consumed him after leaving the military.

It's a feeling that is shared across the WheelHawks team, with six of the 12 players having military backgrounds.

The shared experience has created a team camaraderie that Kingsley believes gives the USA a unique edge as they translate lessons learned in life-and-death experiences onto the pitch.

“You need to know everyone's strengths and weaknesses to make the right calls, both on the battlefield and the rugby pitch,” Kingsley said.

The WheelHawks play in the opening match of the Wheelchair World Cup against Ireland on Friday October 30, which is part of a double-header with the England-Wales clash.

They then face England on November 3 and Wales on November 6, with all matches in the Wheelchair World Cup being played at Wollongong's WIN Entertainment Centre, including the November 13 final.

Heading into his second Wheelchair World Cup, Kingsley is eager to help the WheelHawks advance beyond the group stage of the tournament, which is being staged alongside the Men's and Women's World Cups.

“We want the world to see that we are here and that we are a part of this great sport," he said.