On Sunday, Falcons Community hosted a Mixed Ability (MA) festival as part of Project Rugby. It was a great opportunity for the Falcons Learning Disability Team and Newburn Activity Centre to play against rugby teams from the North West MA family.

Northwest MA had representatives from Bolton Rugby Club, Halifax Magpies Mixed Ability Rugby, The Winnies Warriors Aldwinians RUFC, Sale Sharks Foundation, Leigh RUFC, and Bolton Buccaneers.

Despite the unpredictable weather, everyone had a great day of rugby, with all teams having the chance to play a series of games and activities. The event was a showcase of inclusivity, bringing together players with diverse abilities, ages, and backgrounds to play together on an equal footing.

A big thanks to TryIt Rugby and Lancashire Rugby, who organised the Northwest teams and facilitated their travel to Kingston Park Stadium. After the festival, all teams enjoyed watching the Newcastle Falcons take on the Sale Sharks in a thrilling fixture. Additionally, they had the amazing opportunity to play a mini fixture at half-time, heading onto the main pitch in front of a record-attendance crowd.

Stephen Parsons, Falcons Community Development Officer said: “It was fantastic to welcome everyone from the clubs in Lancashire and welcome Try it Rugby to a festival and play some friendly tag games while also providing a space for those that wanted to play Hugby. 

“It was fantastic to see all the participants from our LD Rugby programme as well as the participants from the project rugby delivery at Newburn to experience their first festival. The smiles on faces and sense of achievement from all the participants were great to see while playing in the morning matches as well as being on the pitch in front of an enthusiastic crowd. 

“The whole day was a great example of inclusive rugby and Rugby + core values being shown by all the participants on the day.”

It was a great day of rugby, highlighting the spirit of inclusion which is what MA rugby is all about. The Falcons Community team did a fantastic job of hosting the event, and all participants had a wonderful time bonding over their shared love of the game.

Project Rugby is a grassroots participation programme delivered by Premiership Rugby, in collaboration with England Rugby and Gallagher. Project Rugby is designed to introduce as many people as possible to rugby. It aims to increase access opportunities for people from traditionally underrepresented groups, including those from low socio-economic backgrounds, ethnically diverse backgrounds, people with disabilities and women and girls.

For more information about and how to get involved please contact Stephen Parsons at stephen.parsons@newcastle-falcons.co.uk.