Sale Sharks Foundation, in alliance with national credit card provider MBNA, has revealed a brand new disability and inclusion scheme aimed to encourage those living with disabilities into sport.
The programme, Tackle Together, will include inclusive tag rugby sessions, wheelchair rugby and Down’s Syndrome rugby sessions and will reach over 1,000 young people.
The Community Foundation of Premiership Rugby union side, Sale Sharks has teamed up with leading credit card provider MBNA to launch a new disability and inclusion project to offer young people with disabilities more access to inclusive sport.
The Tackle Together programme will provide accessible sessions of both touch and tag rugby, with three individual sessions; Inclusive Rugby, Wheelchair Rugby and Down’s Syndrome Rugby. The Sale Sharks Foundation team will work with school sites and veteran hubs with young disabled people, as well as those with visual, audio and physical impairments.
The Down’s Syndrome Rugby sessions will take place every month at Sharks’ Carrington training centre and will also include a chance for those taking part to play at halftime during a Premiership game at the AJ Bell Stadium.
The Wheelchair Rugby sessions will take place in mainstream schools and are intended to educate children and raise awareness around disability within sport, offering pupils the opportunity to experience this for themselves.
Those taking part in each of the sessions will also receive complimentary tickets to a Sale Sharks game alongside family members.
Phil Ball, Community Inclusion Manager at Sale Sharks Foundation, said: “We’re extremely proud to be launching our latest disability and inclusion programme, Tackle Together, as we know how these sessions really can change lives.
“It’s important to us that everyone has the opportunity to be part of the fantastic rugby community, and these sessions will allow those living with disabilities to learn the basics of rugby and make some great friends in the process.
“Without investment from MBNA, we simply wouldn’t be able to activate sessions like these and so we’re really grateful for their continued support.”
Victoria Dowd, Sponsorships Manager at MBNA, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with such a prestigious rugby club in the north west, working with them to positively impact the lives of young people across the region.
“The sessions have been designed so that we’re able to engage as many young people as possible, whether that’s through mainstream schools learning about disabilities in sport through to giving more access to specialised tag and touch rugby sessions, the Tackle Together programme is a special one and we’re proud to throw our support behind it.”
