Society referee - and West List Manager - Hannah Everitt recently took charge of a mixed ability rugby game. Here is her write up of the day, providing an insight into how this new form of the game is run:
On 30 November, I took charge of a wonderful game: Ealing Rugby 1871 3rd XV vs Surry Chargers – a mixed ability team based at Chobham RFC. The team comprises able-bodied players and players with varying degrees of physical impairment and learning difficulties. The premise is simple – lineouts and scrums are uncontested and any player wearing a bib follows ‘touch’ rules.
It quickly became apparent that Ealing wanted to play this match in a way that allowed all their opponents to have a challenging and enjoyable game, but weren’t prepared to be pushovers. Despite a strong team try just before the half time and a moment of individual brilliance from the Chargers’s scrum half (‘Danny Care’) Ealing were threatening to run away with the game – at which point one of the strongest Ealing players changed teams – another would have done but there wasn’t a spare shirt.
It was one of the most joyous and uplifting games I’ve been involved with for a long time, and I hope the Chargers go from strength to strength ahead of their World Trophy appearance in Cork next season. Can’t recommend refereeing this team highly enough. Oh – and the final result – Rugby won!
For more information on mixed ability sports - including rugby - please visit: http://www.mixedabilitysports.org/ and follow @IMAS_sport4all on Twitter.