The tremendous impact and potential of disability Rugby League is there for all to see. We are delighted to be working with Access Sport to tap into this potential and give even more people the opportunity to experience and enjoy Rugby League - Chris Godfrey, RFL Manager

Today sees the launch of Tryz RL, Access Sport’s new, grassroots disability inclusion offer for Rugby League’s community clubs.

The announcement comes as fans look forward to the final of the first Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup this Sunday 30^th October, with the start of the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup next week.

As the first disability inclusive grassroots programme specifically for children and young people in rugby league, Tryz RL will be run by Access Sport in partnership with the Rugby Football League (RFL) and will see Access Sport working with the rugby league community to train, equip and support clubs to be more actively inclusive.

With around 300 community and amateur rugby league clubs, plus more than 30 professional and semi-professional clubs in all current competitions, the Access Sport programme will drive to grow the number of Tryz RL sessions, increasing access and opportunities for disabled young people to play and enjoy rugby league.

Based on Touch and Tag rugby principles, Tryz RL will provide a fun, friendly, disability inclusive rugby league offering for children and young people. It is designed to be inclusive of all disabled children and young people aged 5 – 25, as well as those with long-term health conditions, and parents, carers, and siblings will all be encouraged to join in the fun.

Delivered by community clubs up and down the country, the pilot phase of the initiative will be supporting clubs across London and the South-East, the West of England, the Midlands and the North-East, before expanding to include more clubs and locations. With sessions starting this autumn,

Access Sport is calling on players, parents, volunteers, coaches and clubs to get involved by completing this Expression of Interest Form.

Access Sport’s Flyerz, which delivers a similar initiative across hockey clubs in the UK, has seen 90% of parents say it had a positive impact on their child’s self-confidence, with 84% saying it improved their child’s mental wellbeing.

Helen Rowbotham, CEO at Access Sport, says
“We believe disabled children and young people should have the opportunity to play the sport they love in a fun, inclusive and accessible environment. Following great success with similar initiatives across different sports, our mission with Tryz is to support all rugby league clubs to be disability inclusive and to change the sport of rugby league for good. Supporting community rugby league clubs to establish and launch their own Tryz RL section, we will provide them with the tools and resources they need to become truly inclusive of disabled children and young people. Providing access to funding, upskill coaches and volunteers through our Disability Inclusion Training, we will be connecting our clubs with other specialists across the country to share knowledge and experience across our Inclusive Club Network. With our goal for the pilot phase being to onboard and upskill eight clubs across the four regions, we’re calling on people to get involved, as we work to change the face of rugby league clubs forever, moving the narrative forward so the sport really is accessible for all.

RFL Inclusion Manager, Chris Godfrey, adds,
“As we look ahead to Sunday’s Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup Final and the launch of the Wheelchair World Cup next week, the tremendous impact and potential of disability Rugby League is there for all to see. We are delighted to be working with Access Sport to tap into this potential and give even more people the opportunity to experience and enjoy Rugby League.”   

Looking to work with new clubs to start further sessions every month, the Access Sport and RFL partnership will make grassroots rugby league more inclusive and accessible for disadvantaged and disabled young people.

For more information and details of how to get your local club involved, visit the Tryz Rugby League webpage.