VICTORIA HALL in Saltire was the setting for a recent celebration: the tenth anniversary of International Mixed Ability Sports. Amid the assembled cluster of energisers and high achievers was Anthony Brooke. But for him, all the goodness sprinkled on the world by IMAS, the work done in uniting people of all abilities in sport, even the mixed ability rap by local artist Wilko Wilkes that we were treated to, might not exist.
It all started 16 years ago. Brooke wanted to play contact rugby but his local rugby league club said no because he had cerebral palsy. So he wrote to the area’s disability development officer and next thing, a group of RFU coaches gathered at Bradford & Bingley RFC to chuck a ball around with Brooke and three others with disability.
But Brooke wanted more players, there wasn’t enough for a game. “So he strolled over to a third-team practice and said, ‘Come and play with us!” says Dr Mark Purvis, an IMAS Ambassador.
This story is from the July 2024 edition of Rugby World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 2024 edition of Rugby World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
"I remember getting eating guidelines for Christmas Day!"
CHRISTMAS, the most wonderful time of the year? Not if you’re a professional rugby player it’s not.
Rugby firsts
FIRST RUGBY match you went to? I would have gone to RODNEY PARADE to watch a Newport game when I was about six years old, so around 1992 or 1993.
THE JOHN FISHER STATE SCHOOL RUGBY FESTIVAL
The inaugural John Fisher Rugby Festival hopes to Send state-school rugby players into the stratosphere.
The Making Of Robbie Henshaw
How this small-town boy went On to become a big-time player
RG SNYMAN
The giant Springbok is enjoying the best of both worlds since joining Leinster
BENHARD JANSE VAN RENSBURG
Bristol's South African centre has one eye on an England call-up in 2026
RUGBY RANT
Jessica Hayden, author of The Red Roses, says the women’s game can handle criticism
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO ...GO ON TOUR WITH EMERGING IRELAND
Munster's Ben O'Connor tells RW about the eye-opening trip to South Africa
"Welsh rugby treats players like pieces of meat, not assets"
THEY’VE BUILT the women’s game around the men’s game in Wales but it has to be its own thing.
"I don't believe in dinosaurs – the boys think it's nuts!"
The Exeter Chiefs hooker talks Tarmac, time travel and Tyson Fury
