Blog: "Rugby is just great fun and I’ve made friends"
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year. In 2016 we’ll be taking a look at an A-Z of accessible sporting and fitness opportunities available to disabled people. This week it’s R for rugby, and Zac Presland from Telford discusses trying something different and making new friends.
Zac’s blog:
I love making friends, and been more sociable as part of a rugby squad is great fun. I have expanded my friendship group and it makes me feel really happy to now have new friends who value me.
Rugby is just great fun and the sport teaches you how to be part of a team. After we have played in a match we enjoy ourselves socially and I always feel great afterwards and very excited about the next event.
As a 22-year-old with Down’s syndrome and moderate learning difficulties my family and I had to first find out what rugby was all about.
Before I started playing, my Dad took me to watch Wigan Warriors play rugby league. I decided there and then that I wanted to try the sport.
I first tried rugby at the Shropshire Rugby Rebels junior tag team, and then I heard about the Stags, which are the adult side. I decided that I wanted to play proper contact rugby and joined the Stags.
The sport I play is traditional 15-a-side rugby union with some adaptations. Disabled players who are not allowed to be tackled on medical grounds or lack confidence in been tackled in the usual rugby manner wear a red skullcap – so do new or novice players without any rugby experience.
Uncontested scrums take place – this means that the players get into the scrum position but no actual pushing occurs.
The aim is to enable disabled players like me to take part fully in a game of rugby. The Stags use enablers who support those that require help, and those enablers can be disabled or non-disabled.
Since joining the Stags, my ball kicking, running, hand-eye coordination and lineout throws have improved. However, to continue getting better I still have to practise my skills.
The best I manage to do on a rugby pitch is scoring tries and kicking points for my team. I also received the Man of the Match award when we recently played Ludlow.
I feel confident now when I play for the Stags. I’ve made friends with the coach and he helped me to fit into the team. I’ve also found everyone at the Stags to be really friendly, and you only have to join in with the activities that you feel happy with.
Plus I have expanded my friendships at College and now get help from my friends Brendan, Scott, Kieran and Josh, who all play for the Stags alongside me.
