REPORT of the DISABILITY RUGBY WORKING GROUP 9Th May, 2014
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REPORT OF THE DISABILITY RUGBY WORKING GROUP 9th May, 2014. CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. Working Group Members 3. Recommendations 4. Governance 5. Resources/Budget 6. Funding 7. Communication 8. Disability Rugby Ambassadors 9. Conclusion 10. Appendices I. Pathway for the development of a Disability Rugby Section in a Club Pages 7-12 II. Club Audit Pages 13-16 III. Disability Tag Laws (Overview) Pages 17-20 IV. Disability Tag Laws (Full) Pages 21-40 V. Disability Tag Rugby FAQ’s Pages 41-43 VI. Xcessible Youth Sport Initiative Invite Attached VII. Coaching Guidelines Attached 1 1. Introduction The Disability Rugby Working Group was established in September 2013. The purpose of the group was to establish a standardised inclusive framework and the resources neccessary for the playing, coaching and promotion of rugby for individuals with disabilities * and to oversee and make recommendations to the IRFU Rugby Committee on the strategic direction of all Disability Rugby within Ireland. The Disability Working Group was appointed by the IRFU Rugby Committee in accordance with Law 15 (e) (iii) following recommendations from the Management Committee. *Disability refers to someone who has a physical, sensory or learning impairment which is long term and has an adverse affect on their ability to carry out normal day to day activities. The Working Group engaged in significant consultation with key stakeholders involved in Disability Inclusion Sport in Ireland. This involved the following meetings: Health Service Executive (HSE), Special Olympics Ireland, Irish Wheelchair Association – Sport, Irish Wheelchair Rugby, Football Association of Ireland – Football for All, Coaching Ireland, CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre, Federation of Intellectual Disability Organisations, Ulster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, Munster Rugby, COPE Foundation. *Although the Working Group did not engage directly with National Health Service (NHS) and Disability Sport Northern Ireland (DSNI), Tim Craig is in regular contact with them and was able to relay their perspective. The consultation process was conducted in a positive manner. Many of the views obtained during the consultation have assisted in framing the recommendations in this report. The Working Group appreciated the assistance of those who hosted and facilitated these meetings. The Working Group was impressed by the large numbers of people who are working in voluntary capacities carrying out vital functions to continue the growth of Disability Rugby in Ireland. The work and knowledge that these dedicated volunteers bring to the Game needs to be encouraged and harnessed. All of the recommendations made in this report envisage continued consultation between the IRFU and the relevant stakeholders. 2. Working Group Members The Working Group was appointed by the Rugby Committee of the IRFU in November 2013: Des Kavanagh – Chairman, Eoin Hogan (IRFU), David Keane (IRFU), Colin Moran (IRFU), Euan Gee (Munster Rugby), Tim Craig (Disability Inclusion Officer, Ulster Rugby), Peter O’Brien (Director of Training & Volunteers, Special Olympics Ireland), Martin Nunan (Volunteer Coordinator/Level 2 Instructor, HSE), Robert McDermott (Junior Vice President, Leinster Branch) and Nicky Hamill (Director of Sport - IWA), A special thanks for contributions made by; 2 Oisin Jordan (FAI), Niamh Daffy (CARA APA Centre), Declan O’Leary (Coaching Ireland), Jorge Zulkouski (Westmanstown Taggers), Gerry McCleery (Leinster Rugby), Paul Whitten (Ulster Rugby), Jim Herring (Connacht Rugby), Barry Coade (Mullingar RFC) 3. Recommendations i. The game will be known as Disability Rugby. ii. The game will be governed under the auspices of the IRFU. iii. The game of choice agreed is to be Tag Rugby. iv. Further investigation is required in to the merits of Mixed Ability Contact Rugby, once Tag Rugby is more established. v. The Club Establishment Guidelines, Laws and Coaching Guidelines are to be circulated to all existing clubs, organizations and schools who express an interest. vi. The Disability Rugby Working Group will be maintained as an Advisory Group for Disability Rugby. A revised Terms of Reference will be required. vii. In conjunction with CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre/Disability Sport Northern Ireland, Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) Courses will be available provincially for all Disability Rugby coaches and Rugby Development Staff. viii. DIT training will occur in conjunction with IRFU mini coaching course. Specific Rugby DIT courses will explored in the future. ix. The Disability Rugby Programme receives a high profile launch. (November International /International Disability Awareness Day Dec 3rd 2014). x. Personnel in each province are to be nominated as provincial leads for Disability Rugby. xi. A national lead is appointed to coordinate Disability Rugby within Ireland. xii. A Memorandum of Association to be agreed between the IRFU and the Irish Wheelchair Association in relation to Wheelchair Rugby. xiii. A Memorandum of Association to be agreed between the IRFU and the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to use of Policies, Guidelines & Training. xiv. The IRFU to become the lead National Governing Body associated with the Xcessible Youth Sport Initiative 2014. 3 4. Governance One recurring theme in our various stakeholder meetings was the various types of games being played and the rules & regulations that were being applied. This needed to be addressed and the Laws at Appendix III will bring consistency to the game being played. The Working Group believes that this will help to foster and enhance participation in a game which is safe and inclusive. We are satisfied that there is huge potential for the development of the Disability Rugby Game across the island of Ireland. We note the positive feedback from Clubs which have embraced the Disability game and look forward to the further enhancement of rugby as a community game open and welcoming to all. In this regard it is imperative that the Branches of the IRFU (Leinster, Munster, Ulster* and Connacht) take account of the huge numbers of potential players in the Disability sector who are rugby supporters, who are interested in the game and who, to date, have not been encouraged or incentivised to be actively involved in the Game. *Ulster Rugby, in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Culture and Leisure, has a full time Disability Inclusion Officer in Tim Craig. This significant initiative has increased participation in the Disability Game and has assisted clubs in engaging with this part of our extended rugby family. The relationship between the Mullingar RFC and the Mullingar Resource Centre and indeed the Daughters of Charity with Garryowen FC are demonstrable examples where co-operation between Service Providers and Clubs can yield positive results for all concerned. As Disability Rugby grows so too will the requirement to branch out and grade Disability Rugby at different levels and capabilities. As per recommendation IV, further investigation is also required into Mixed Ability Rugby. Admittedly, there is a lack of guidelines on rugby for those with sensory impairments. Although it is in the Terms of Reference, it became obvious early on in the process that we would spread ourselves too thin if we attempted to cover the full scope of disabilities. The Advisory Group, under its revised Terms of Reference, should be specifically tasked with investigating rugby for sensory impaired and engaging with Vision Sports Ireland/Northern Ireland and Deaf Sports Ireland. This course of action was commended in our meeting with CARA on the 13th of March in Limerick who cautioned against over-extending and thus not being able to deliver anything meaningful, which is a mistake that is often made by organisations working with people with disabilities. The role of the Advisory Group going forward should be to progress different forms of rugby as and when they required. A growth in the sector is envisaged after the launch of the IRFU Disability Rugby programme and the alliance with CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre and other stakeholders. 5. Resources/Budget We have estimated initial costs as follows: 5.1. The circulation of documentation/guidelines to assist Clubs with the successful management of disability rugby, teams and clubs. Coaching manuals would also be circulated together with adapted laws governing special needs rugby. 4 Design and print of 1000 Guideline brochures, laws booklets and adapted coaching manuals from www.bossanova.ie or Eden Print = € 6300tbc 5.2. The IRFU would also hope to provide basic tag rugby equipment to those club/organisations who express interest across the provinces in order to give special needs players and/ or physically disabled players the option to play tag rugby. Pay Rugby Packs x 100 @ €50 = €5000 5.3. The IRFU would also look to up skill existing community rugby and rugby development staff to better enable them to work in harmony with those with special needs and disabilities as well as appointing a specific development Officer for the promotion and servicing of Disability Rugby. Courses in this regard (Disability Inclusion Training) are being facilitated through CARA Adapted Physical Activity Centre and Disability Sport Northern Ireland. 70 Coaches x €45 = €3150 50 Development Staff x €45 = €2250 It is imperative that there are provincial and national points of contact available to deal with the inevitable interest after the programme in launched. 5.4. It is suggested that the provincial leads come from existing