Hose, 22, took up the sport four years ago while recovering from a horrific car crash which paralysed him from the waist down.

This week he celebrated his first international victory, winning gold at the Asia Oceanic championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.

"Twelve months ago I wouldn't have thought this would happen," the Camperdown man said.

"It's been unbelievable. I was aiming for it but wasn't too sure how fast it would happen."

Hose quickly rose through the wheelchair rugby ranks.

He became a regular playing rugby with Wheelchair Sports Victoria last year and although his team, Red Backs, lost the 2008 grand final he was named best-on-court.

In June his ambitions of playing in the Paralympics edged closer when he was selected for the Australian wheelchair rugby squad.

He said playing in New Zealand against the Kiwis, Japan, South Africa and Korea was an amazing experience.

"It was a totally different intensity and much quicker than the state league."

Australia, ranked second in the world behind the US before the championships, won all its games but they weren't easy victories.

Hose said Australia narrowly defeated Japan and New Zealand in the qualifying games.

Australia met the Kiwis again in the grand final and scored a comfortable eight-point victory.

Hose will take a month off before resuming training in December.

His focus is on the world championships in Vancouver next September.

"They were tight. We only beat Japan by a point and New Zealand by three points.

"They were right down to the wire."