Six Midlands players have been included in the England Deaf rugby squad for the opening international of the season against Wales at Broadstreet RFC near Coventry on Sunday February 3 (1pm).
Lock Daniel McAllister (Luton), back-row forwards Brett Pruce (Aylestone St James) and Andrew Jones (Stamford), scrum-half Adam Smallwood (Bridgnorth), winger Tim Quigley (Northampton Mens Own), prop Tom Cowdale (Wolverhampton) and back-row Henry Skinner (Handsworth) have all been included in a 25-strong training squad from which the final match squad will be selected.
The Wales game is the first of two Deaf Internationals that will be played at Broadstreet this season. England will also play Scotland at the Binley Woods ground on March 9.
Tickets for these internationals cost only £5.00 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.
The squad is drawn from club registered English players from across the country who have a hearing impairment the equivalent of being fully deaf in one ear. Many of the players have a profound hearing impairment and communicate by sign language, though it does not stop them playing rugby as an effective squad.
England Deaf Rugby Union is an Associate Member of the RFU, and their programme is supported by the Community Rugby Department.
This season the BBC are filming the Union's activities profiling several of the players for an upcoming documentary.
England Deaf rugby squad:
Backs: Adam Smallwood (Bridgnorth), Mark Lewis (East Grinstead), Tim Quigley (Northampton Mens Own), Guy Lavery (Tunbridge Wells), Gareth Waterfield (Burnham on Sea), Charlie James (New Brighton), Mark Todd (Andover), Matt Woodward (Chinnor), Gavin Jackson (Selby), Alex Astbury (Twickenham).
Forwards: Nick Todd (Petersfield), Matt Vandenbrouck (Paignton), Robert Hill (Folkestone), Kris Mannering (Guildford), Daniel McAllister (Luton), Ian Collins (Sevenoaks), Brett Pruce (Aylestone St James), Andrew Jones (Stamford), Tom Cowdale (Wolverhampton), Tony Wilkinson (Chinnor), Peter Altham (Sale Academy), Nick McKen (Burnham-on-Sea), Brett Hanratty (Ryton), Henry Skinner (Handsworth), Matt Gilbert (Hartpury College). |
