Inclusive Festival to kick-off Family Fest 

• 16 Apr 2024
• News

Edinburgh Rugby will kick-off this Saturday’s ‘Family Fest’ fixture against Scarlets with an inclusive rugby festival featuring nearly 100 participants in the shadow of Hive Stadium (20 April, kick-off 7.35pm).

Edinburgh and Main Club Partner Scottish Building Society have once again teamed up to put on the pre-match festival, building on the success of the inaugural tournament in November.

Inclusive Rugby involves both able bodied players and those with a physical or learning disability, playing in one unified outfit.

This Saturday sees Edinburgh Inclusive Rugby Team, Strathmore Clan, Fife Clan and Ayrshire Clan all take part in the tournament and a half-time lap of honour, before the winning side is presented with a trophy and medals by Scottish Building Society Chief Executive Officer, Paul Denton.

Scottish Building Society Chief Executive Officer Paul Denton, said: “Our sponsorship with Edinburgh Rugby is far more than the professional players on the pitch. Rugby is a sport for everyone and using our platform we want to create opportunities to make the game more accessible and inspire people to get involved.”

The Edinburgh Rugby Inclusive Team [ERIT] were welcomed by the club in 2021 to train at the home of Edinburgh Rugby – Hive Stadium – and take part in fixtures against other mixed ability teams and club teams from across the country and indeed Europe. In 2022 ERIT took part in the International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament in Cork, Ireland.

Edinburgh Rugby Managing Director Douglas Struth added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be hosting the second Scottish Building Society Inclusive Festival this Saturday, kicking off our Family Fest match night and crucial BKT United Rugby Championship game against Scarlets.

“With four teams and nearly 100 players involved, it will be a real festival of rugby and togetherness, that celebrates everything good about the game we love.

“It will be a special moment to see all four teams take part in a half-time lap of honour in Hive Stadium, with the winning team to set to be presented with medals and a trophy by Paul [Denton] from Main Club Partner, Scottish Building Society.

“I’d encourage all our fans to make plenty of noise at half-time and let’s celebrate all our participating inclusive teams.”

Edinburgh Rugby Community Manager, Ruaridh Pye, added: “Mixed Ability Rugby is on the rise and forms an integral part of our community programme here at Edinburgh Rugby.

“Mixed ability rugby showcases our sport’s truest values as well as highlighting how it really is a game for all. Whilst there is most definitely a competitive nature to the matches, the sportsmanship and friendships made after each and every match, sets it apart.

“A massive thank you to all our participating inclusive teams, players and volunteers that are set to make Saturday’s festival a real success, we couldn’t put on tournaments like this without the time and effort the volunteers put into training, playing, fundraising and all other aspects required to sustain such important qualities within our game.

“A huge thanks also to our Main Club Partner, Scottish Building Society, for their on-going support across several of our community programmes in assisting us to deliver this Scottish Building Society Inclusive Festival.”

Neil Smith – Edinburgh Inclusive Rugby Team Chair Person – added: “A massive thanks to Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Building Society for their continued support, both hosting this festival and allowing us to grow the game of inclusive rugby, not only within the Edinburgh community, but far and wide.

“We look forward to building on these foundations with their support in the coming seasons. For anyone who’s interested in finding out what we do and how we go about making rugby for everyone, get along to Hive Stadium at 7pm every Wednesday for our weekly training sessions.”