Special Schools Blitz In Thomond Tomorrow

Munster Rugby will be holding a 7-a-side disability tag rugby blitz in Thomond Park tomorrow as part of the IRFU and CARA Xcessible Youth Sport Initiative.

The blitz is the culmination of a coaching programme which involved aligning six Munster schools with their local clubs.

Club volunteers were given training and have been coaching the teams who will be playing the blitz in their club jerseys.

Munster Community Rugby Officer Euan Gee is overseeing the project and has organised tomorrow’s blitz. He said: “A day out in Thomond Park will be a dream come true for the kids.

"Many of these boys and girls would never have imagined even playing rugby a few months ago and now they have a chance of playing rugby in Thomond Park, the home of Munster Rugby.

"There’s a training session there with the senior squad afterwards so they will be able to watch the senior players train too. They’ll also get the opportunity to visit the Munster Rugby museum and become familiar with the history of Munster Rugby so it will be a great day out.”

There will be 180 students participating from the following schools and clubs: Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School – Ballincollig RFC, St. Ita’s and Joseph's – Tralee RFC, Catherine McAuley School – Garryowen FC, St. Anne’s Special School – Ennis RFC, Cormaic Special School – Cashel RFC and Scoil Bernadette, Montenotte – Old Christians RFC.

The CARA Xcessible Youth Sport Initiative is a three-year national focused initiative aimed at increasing the participation of children with disabilities in physical activity and sport.

This exciting initiative has opened new sport and participation opportunities for children with disabilities with a focus on participating in the adapted version of Tag Rugby at club and school levels.

The initiative has facilitated links between National Governing Bodies of Sport, Local Sports Partnerships, Schools and Disability Organisations in order to give easy access and choice for children with disabilities in physical activity and sport.

Michael Gilroy, Training and Education Coordinator for CARA stated: “Adapted Tag Rugby was an exciting addition to year two of the CARA Xcessible Inclusive Youth Sport Initiative. It was an ideal fit into the school curriculum, suiting the physical education needs of the students.

"We were delighted that the IRFU, Local Sports Partnerships, Irish Special Schools Sports Council and local rugby clubs around the country supported the roll out of this initiative and look forward to seeing future school and rugby club developments in this area".

For further information on the Xcessible Inclusive Youth Sport Initiative please contact: Michael Gilroy – 066 714 5672 / 085 1678790, caratraining@ittralee.ie or check out the CARA website here.

For more information about disability rugby in Munster, please email info@munsterrugby.ie.

Check out the video below from the first training session at Our Lady of Good Counsel Primary School in Ballincollig.