29 November 2005
Jo Yapp, the England women's rugby captain, presented the prizes at a recent Shropshire rugby tournament involving people with learning disability.
The four-team tournament - Haughton Howlers, Southall Screamers, Haughton Hurricanes and the Severndale Stormers - was staged at Telford Hornets RFC's Town Park ground and involved players who are part of the Rugby Inclusion Project , a partnership between the Thames and Chiltern Trust, Rugby Football Union and the English Federation of Disability Sport. The tournament was played under Tag rugby rules - a non-contact version of rugby.
The Rugby Inclusion Project was launched in May 2003 as a pioneering scheme in Herefordshire and Shropshire. The project aims to bring to life-changing opportunities to people with learning difficulties within the local community by linking them with local sports clubs.
Telford, Hereford and Greyhound and Greyhound - a Hereford-based club - are the first clubs to become involved in the project ns within pilot clubs such as Telford Hornets, in Shropshire, Hereford RFC and the Greyhound in Herefordshire.
People with a learning disability get few opportunities to participate in sport within their community and this project will open the door to a world of inclusion, increased fitness, self-belief, team involvement, wider ranging social opportunities and a chance for competition.
Since January 2005 project co-ordinator Carol Reynolds has been working toward these goals. Partnerships between special schools, county council local rugby clubs and the RFU have been forged. The project now has four club leaders who are ensuring that introductory sessions held at local schools colleges are active purposeful enjoyable and safe. Regular training sessions are held every week at local rugby clubs. |
