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Latest News
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Spain Sevens Seville 2022 - Women's
4 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe keen to drive Ireland onto Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

We spoke to the prolific Ireland star about backing up the team’s success in Seville and plotting their path to Cape Town in September.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 26 April, 2022
4 min read
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
5 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Everything you need to know about Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Your guide to RWC Sevens 2022, which will take place in Cape Town between 9-11 September this year.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Fri 8 April, 2022
5 min read
Dubai Emirates Airline Rugby Sevens 2021 - Men's
3 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Perfection, not silverware, the focus for South Africa and Selvyn Davids

We caught up with the Blitzboks star, who has helped guide his side to the top of the men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings as the countdown continues to their home Rugby World Cup Sevens.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 5 April, 2022
3 min read
2018 Highlights
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
08:29 mins

Highlights: New Zealand win big in San Francisco

New Zealand retained their Rugby World Cup Sevens title in San Francisco
Mon 23 July, 2018
08:29 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
07:03 mins

Highlights: New Zealand women's win Rugby World Cup Sevens

Check out all the top action as New Zealand win The Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco
Sun 22 July, 2018
07:03 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day Two
06:30 mins

HIGHLIGHTS: Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two

Men's semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day two of action at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 #RWC7s
Sun 22 July, 2018
06:30 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens San Francisco 2018 - Day One
06:51 mins

Highlights: Men's quarter-finals decided

Men's quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup Sevens decided after incredible first day at AT&T Park
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:51 mins
Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018
06:26 mins

Highlights: Women's semi-finals confirmed at Rugby World Cup Sevens

Championship semi-finals confirmed after thrilling day one of action
Sat 21 July, 2018
06:26 mins
Feature
Wednesday 27 April, 2022
3 min read

Italy leading the way in Special Olympics rugby

A ground-breaking partnership between the Italian Rugby Federation and the Special Olympics movement is helping the sport to embrace more people with intellectual disabilities.
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Special Olympics (SO) supports over three million athletes with intellectual disabilities, one million coaches and volunteers and runs over 100,000 competitions annually.

While rugby is not officially one of 36 sports played under the Special Olympics banner, Special Olympics are aiming to develop it as an official sport and the sport is no stronger than in Italy, where a flagship partnership with Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) has enabled athletes to flourish.

“One of the sports we are focusing on at the moment is rugby, flag-tag rugby. We’re not looking at contact rugby at the moment,” said Colin Kenny, Senior Sports Partnerships  Manager for Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia.

“There have been pockets of activity over the last while, and in Italy in particular there has been a very strong development of the sport, mainly through a fantastic partnership they have with the Italian Rugby Federation.”

Formal agreement

That partnership began informally in 2013 with members of the national Italy men’s team attending a training clinic with SO Italy athletes.

Since then the relationship has gone from strength to strength with more training and coaching input from FIR-affiliated referees and coaches as well as promotional activities such as the “Wear the Laces” fundraising campaign.

In 2017, a formal agreement was signed in Florence between SO Italy and FIR and this is seen as a template for other countries to follow moving forward.

Nearly 50 athletes with intellectual disabilities currently play the sport in Italy and there are plans to double the number of clubs to eight in due course.

The majority of those involved in SO Italy rugby are also involved in the Unified Sports project, which sees players with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same team.

United by rugby

Kenny says that Unified Sports is an essential piece of the jigsaw as it brings the whole of the rugby community together.

“One of the many good things about rugby anywhere in the world is its community emphasis,” he said.

“SO Italy are working hard on that, getting SO athletes as part of the grassroots and professional clubs.

“Inclusivity is a positive for everyone concerned.

“For the athletes, there are more training and playing opportunities and playing on the same team as those without disabilities helps to breakdown stereotypes.

“And for the clubs, it widens their reach into the community.”

Strengthening the player pool

At one stage, the Special Olympics athlete pool amounted to six million people, but post-COVID that number has roughly been halved as many athletes were not able to participate in Special Olympics activities during the pandemic due to government restrictions across the world.

There are further challenges now as coaches and volunteers may not return, which will further reduce the capacity of Special Olympics National Programmes to run activities. And the situation has been exacerbated by cuts in services for people with disabilities generally during COVID-19 which has led to a myriad of further issues.

Rugby is seen as one of the sports that can help reverse the trend and boost participation figures worldwide, not just in Italy.

“Hopefully we’ll get a lot of the athletes we’ve lost back, post-COVID, but there are no guarantees, so we have a lot of work to do,” said Mr. Kenny.

“That’s why rugby is so attractive as a sport to us because it has a low cost base, it integrates well into a community, there is an existing structure already with the clubs and it is quite an easy sport to coach. Non-contact rugby is pass and run, which is great for the people we work with, whereas there’s quite a technical element to sports like tennis and golf.”

Big stage awaits

A further sign of rugby’s growing standing in the SO movement are plans to include the sport in the Special Olympic World Games should the participation levels grow to the required level.

Alternating between summer and winter, the World Games have become the movement’s flagship event since the first tournament was staged in 1968.

While the Berlin 2023 Special Olympic World Games will come too soon for rugby’s inclusion, it is hoped that all the necessary structures will be in place for the sport to make its presence felt at the next summer event in 2027.

“We are looking towards a pathway where maybe rugby can be included in some shape or form as a demonstration sport,” confirmed Mr. Kenny

In the meantime, Italy will continue to fly the flag for rugby in the Special Olympics space.

“We are proud of our partnership with SO that was created with the goal of increasing opportunities to play and grow rugby,” said Daniela De Angelis, head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at FIR.

 “We encourage the participation of our Integrated Rugby athletes, now present in many clubs of the Federation, in the Special Olympics activities, as well as SO athletes in our federal activities.

“We have always looked up to the world of SO for its ability to offer thousands of athletes, families and communities a daily opportunity for sport, but also extraordinary moments of competition, commitment and celebration with the World Games.

“Our journey, therefore, continues together and we are happy to work side by side with SO with the hope of seeing Rugby in the World Games soon”

 

Trending News Show all
2018 Commonwealth Games women's final
3 min read

Commonwealth Games

All the build-up to rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games 2022

Now that the line-ups are complete in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, we take a look at who has won gold in the past and the sides competing to add their names to the roll call of honour in July.

Commonwealth Games

Wed 11 May, 2022
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Discipline and hard work at the heart of Madagascar's success on the road to Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

The Madagascar women's sevens team has achieved their historic dream of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament for the first time. At the heart of this achievement lies a lot of hard work, determination and discipline.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Wed 11 May, 2022
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HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Seven women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series players to watch in Toulouse

Following an exciting weekend in Langford we look at seven women’s stars who could light up Toulouse between 20-22 May.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Thu 5 May, 2022
4 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Black Ferns Sevens renew riveting rivalry with Australia on HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia wrapped up the 2022 Series title in Langford, but the Black Ferns Sevens left Canada with plenty to celebrate as they begin a busy period.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Tue 3 May, 2022
4 min read
Madagascar Women's Sevens
3 min read

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022: Madagascar latest team to book ticket to Cape Town

Following another intense weekend of qualifying action we now know the identity of 12 women's and 20 men's teams who will compete at RWC Sevens 2022.

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022

Mon 2 May, 2022
3 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
7 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia clinch overall 2022 series title while late Lily Dick try gives them Cup win in Langford

Hosts Canada took fifth place while Ireland flyer Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe bagged 12 tries as they won bronze in the HSBC Canada Sevens in Langford.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Mon 2 May, 2022
7 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
5 min read

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Australia edge towards HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series glory in Langford as New Zealand provide thrills on return

Australia are closing in on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series title after a perfect start to the penultimate event of the season in Canada, while the Black Ferns came back with a bang at the Starlight Stadium.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Sun 1 May, 2022
5 min read
HSBC Canada Women's Sevens 2022
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HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Captains on top of the world ahead of the HSBC Canada Women's Sevens in Langford

The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to the home of Rugby Canada after a 1,083 day break as Australia look to clinch their first Series title since to 2018.

HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

Fri 29 April, 2022
3 min read
Santiago Gómez Cora
5 min read

rugby sevens

Santiago Gómez Cora: “You have to be patient, trust a lot and do the hard work”

World Rugby caught up with Los Pumas Sevens coach about Argentina’s recent win in the HSBC Canada Sevens and what it means to him going forward.

rugby sevens

Thu 28 April, 2022
5 min read
Charlotte Caslick
3 min read

HSBC Sevens Series

Series title within Australia’s reach as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Langford

We spoke to Australia co-captain Charlotte Caslick about her team's mindset heading into this weekend's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series stop in Langford knowing they can wrap up the series title.

HSBC Sevens Series

Wed 27 April, 2022
3 min read
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