Wheelchair Rugby Sevens Wheelchair Rugby Sevens is an all-inclusive version of wheelchair rugby with both males and females playing in the same team. Whereas Paralympic wheelchair rugby uses a classification system, the sevens version does not and able bodied players are allowed to compete. The games are similar to Rugby Union in that they run for 80 minutes, with an oval ball which must be passed backwards. The scoring system is the same - you can score tries, conversions, penalties and drop goals. There’s no doubting the physicality of the game with contact between wheelchairs being allowed, there’s even line outs and scrums! A member of the Scottish team makes a break! FireFit Hub is a youth centre based in Toxteth, Liverpool that are a part of the StreetGames Network. For the past year, they’ve been running weekly rugby sessions as part of a Pop-Up Club programme set up by the RFU and StreetGames. This programme entails running informal, fun and inclusive rugby sessions in disadvantaged areas of the UK to increase interest and participation levels following the World Rugby U20 Championships held in England in 2016. They have also been running Wheelchair Rugby Union Sevens sessions for the young people around the centre since January 2017. It was initially set up after running a survey of their young people asking which sports they’d like to try. Wheelchair Rugby was a popular choice and through Satellite clubs they were able to run these sessions. They then partnered with the England Wheelchair Rugby Union Sevens team who helped them run their sessions. The England team head coach, Martin Beddis, has been coaching these sessions at FireFit Hub. Forming a scrum. The sessions initially attracted 15-20 young participants which then grew to 30-40 young participants in the first two weeks. The sessions have continued to grow and now attracts over 80 young people from the area. Anthony Williams, the Sport Development Officer at FireFit Hub, said “These Wheelchair Rugby Sevens sessions are the most successful sessions we’ve ever run in terms of participation levels”. Although he added that the only struggle they face is getting enough wheelchairs for everyone to have a go, at the moment everyone gets a limited time in the chair. Anthony says the reason for the success was that Wheelchair Rugby offered something completely new and intrigued the young people. A Welsh player makes a tackle. These sessions proved so successful that four young people who had been taking part in the sessions represented England in the Tri-Nations tournament on Sunday 21st May 2017, held at the FireFit Hub in Liverpool. FireFit also had two of their staff take part with Sharif and Anthony (pictured below) having progressed from young people at the organisation to staff. FireFit Hub Representatives: (Left to Right) Lewis, Ishmail, Sharif, Safia, Joe and Anthony. Safia described the day as a “great experience”, although she “expected to be playing against smaller opponents!”. Joe, who represented the Welsh team, said that his teammates were “very welcoming” but that the games were “more aggressive and loud than he thought they would be”. Joe went on the score two tries on the day and he later added that the “whole experience has been very fun and exciting”. England went into the tournament ranked as World Number 1’s however it was Wales that were the winners of the Tri-Nations tournament after they beat both England and Scotland. The results from the tournament were: England 10-17 Wales Wales 45-15 Scotland Scotland 5-55 England Welsh Team (Source: https://twitter.com/IncubateurBUSI/status/867286817812492288) English Team Scottish Team Additional Photos: .