Carolyn Hitt: Wales-England deaf rugby encounter set to whet the appetite of ...

As a Six Nations appetite whetter, it has the perfect ingredients.

Tomorrow a world champion Welsh rugby side takes on the Old Enemy at Cardiff Arms Park.

The Wales Deaf rugby team meet their English counterparts for the 11th time to contest the Broadstreet Cup.

Since

their first clash in 2004, Wales are eight victories to two ahead in the bragging rights, but, as England won the last game 21-8 on home soil, tomorrow’s contest should be suitably tasty.

It will also be a proud day for our family as we watch my cousin Celyn Ashton run out for Wales in the centre.

It’s

not the first time we’ve watched him play against England. Around 10 years ago our tribe of relatives took over Sardis Road to see him win his Wales Under-16 cap at outside-half.

His

opposite number that day was a certain Danny Cipriani, while future Grand Slam-winning centre Jonathan Davies was on the bench.

These

days Celyn – a science teacher in Penarth’s Stanwell School – plays for

Treorchy and his Wales Deaf team-mates are also predominantly drawn from Swalec League sides, including Maesteg, Usk, Dunvant and Bridgend Athletic.

The players do not have to be profoundly deaf to qualify.

Celyn, for example, has hearing loss in one ear.

As the team’s media officer Geraint Morgan explains: “Many people ask how deaf you need to be to be eligible to play deaf rugby.

“You only need a combined average hearing loss of 25db or more in both ears.

“This

is approximately a minimum hearing loss in both ears or a moderate hearing loss in one ear but normal hearing in the other.”

So

the Wales Deaf Rugby Union (WDRU) is also hoping that tomorrow’s game will act as a recruitment drive, highlighting the participation opportunities possible for people with hearing difficulties.

The

WDRU already has a Community Strategy Programme in place offering children from schools and deaf units the chance to take part in skill sessions organised by WRU regional coaches and WDRU volunteers.

“In addition to increasing participation at grassroots level and offering new experiences for deaf children, it’s hoped that some of these children will then be identified

to become part of the Wales Deaf Rugby Academy and then progress to the

National Deaf team,” says Geraint.

Their aims were boosted last year by a

three-year sponsorship deal from Specsavers, the largest retail dispenser of digital hearing aids in the UK.

The optician has become the sole kit sponsor and provided all players with state-of-the-art Bluetooth hearing aids.

Wales

Deaf captain Gareth John – who plays right wing for Tata Steel RFC – says: “The new hearing aids have totally changed my life.”

The experience of international rugby has also proved life-changing for the Wales Deaf players.

But the Welsh game originally took root on a small scale.

It all began in 1995, as Geraint recalls: “During a meeting at Swansea Deaf Club, boys discussed their love of playing rugby.

“From this Swansea Deaf Rugby Club was formed.

“Coincidentally,

boys from Newport were thinking along the same lines and set up their team within Pill Harriers Deaf Rugby Club.”

Swansea Deaf took on Newport for the first time at Tredegar Park that autumn, winning 52-0.

The

return fixture at Loughor RFC the following year saw Swansea triumph again and interest grew among deaf rugby players and spectators.

As

deaf club rugby blossomed, a formal Wales committee structure was established and the Wales Deaf Rugby Football Club was born.

On the other side of the world, Kevin Pivac, the man who had set up the New Zealand equivalent in 1991, was following Welsh progress with interest.

He made contact… and history.

In November 1998, Wales Deaf hosted a tour by New Zealand, the first event of its kind in the northern hemisphere.

By the next decade, Wales Deaf were playing regular internationals against England and Scotland.

And

their proudest moment came in 2002 when they were the winners of the first Deaf Rugby World Championships, beating New Zealand at Eden Park.

It is a title they still hold.

The other international deaf teams are

Australia, Japan – who Wales hosted in 2006 – Fiji and South Africa, while there is also interest from Argentina and Ireland in forming sides.

Wales Deaf are playing their part in growing the game.

In 2012 and 2013 they visited Estonia to aid the development of rugby in the Baltic States.

Closer

to home, the team has played fixtures against Glamorgan County, the Welsh Academicals, Rygbi Gogledd Cymru 1404, The Royal Marines, The Army

and, for the past two years, has participated in the Old Pernarthian Sevens.

The 35-strong squad seek to play at least four games a season and train at the WRU’s national base at Hensol.

So what are the challenges for a player with hearing problems?

Deaf rugby is played without any alteration to the laws of the game, with team-mates using signs to communicate set moves.

The most high-profile deaf player is Mat Gilbert, the former Scarlets flanker now playing for Bath.

Under his scrum-cap he wears hearing aids in both ears.

In a recent interview he joked about how he has used his deafness to tactical advantage.

“I

used to try it on with referees,” said Gilbert, who has represented England Deaf. “I’d say to them before games: I’m deaf, please be aware if you’re calling ‘hands off’, I might not be able to hear you.

“My thinking was, it might delay them, so that would give me a couple of seconds to handle.”

It often worked… until Gilbert encountered Nigel Owens.

“He basically said to me, ‘Don’t try that one on me, you’re a professional, you know all the rules.’

“He was right so I’ve not done it since!”

As the only deaf professional sportsman in England, Gilbert has become a fantastic role model.

When he was in Wales Gilbert inspired a youngster with hearing problems to follow his example.

“I was approached by this young lad whose parents were unsure whether it was a good idea for him to start playing,” he says.

“I’m good friends with that family and he’s really enjoying his rugby.

“The important thing for young kids is that their parents allow them.

“That was the thing with me: my parents let me do things.

“I don’t think you need to be too protective.”

There

will be 30 similar role models on show at Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow – in front of spectators who will include children drawn from the 28 deaf schools and units across Wales.

Wales captain Gareth John – who is also ambassador for the Sound Barrier Awards, which celebrate

the achievements of people who have overcome hearing problems – is confident it will be a match to savour.

“The whole squad is eagerly anticipating this game and it will be extra special to play at the world famous Arms Park,” he says.

“The games against England are always a fantastic occasion and the artificial surface should allow for a great spectacle.”

WRU

president Dennis Gethin, who is also president of the Wales Deaf Rugby Union, said: “I’m honoured to be president of the Wales Deaf rugby team and I’m very proud of the extremely important work they do to help deaf people in the community at large.

“Wales

are existing world champions after triumphing in 2002 and hopefully they will continue that success in this weekend’s encounter.”

Let’s

also hope the Wales Deaf team will encourage a new generation to follow

in their stud marks and realise there are no sound barriers in rugby.

• Wales Deaf v England Deaf kicks off at 1.30pm at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, with entry £5 for adults and free to children under 16

Article source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/thomas-regional-rugby-is-dying-29948211.html

Carolyn Hitt: Wales-England deaf rugby encounter set to whet the appetite of ...