Scarlets Community Foundation hosted a first deaf event at Coleg Sir Gâr, attended by close to 50 youngsters who are deaf or hard of hearing.
To coincide with the club’s Inclusion Day for the URC clash with Edinburgh on Saturday, the event built on the success of the ICC (Inclusive Community Clubs) that have been set up throughout the region.
The Scarlets Community Foundation recently appointed Ollie West as their first Inclusion Officer thanks to a donation from the Phil Bennett Foundation, which was set up in memory of the club’s greatest player and former president.
Phil’s son James, together with Phil’s Llanelli, Wales and Lions team-mate Derek Quinnell – an honorary patron of the Foundation and Scarlets President – came along to watch the event, which saw youngsters aged between six and 16 take part in a morning of rugby skills and enjoy a taster session of wheelchair rugby. There was also a question and answer with Scarlets’ Wales internationals Sam Wainwright and Harri O’Connor.
Wales Deaf senior rugby player Rhys Williams took part in the Q&A alongside Sam and Harri, while representatives of WRU Deaf and Disability Sport Wales were also present.
Scarlets Community Foundation manager Paul Fisher said: “It was a fantastic morning enjoyed by everyone and we are hugely grateful to the donation from the Phil Bennett Foundation which has allowed us, along with the WRU Hub Funding, to employ a Scarlets Inclusion Officer and an additional Rugby Officer across the communities of West Wales
“The support enables us to engage and provide more diverse rugby opportunities and since the new roles have been established the average engagement levels have increased to around 2,500 people per month.”
Derek Quinnell said: “Ollie and the community team are doing some incredible work across the region and it was fantastic to see an event like this which aligns perfectly with the Phil Bennett Foundation and its mission statement to help disadvantaged, disabled or underprivileged individuals to participate in sport.
“To see the youngsters enjoying and engaging in our game shows the power that rugby can have in our communities.”
Gareth Mills-Bennett, Disability Sport Wales Regional Partnership Senior Officer for West Wales added: ‘It was great to be able to see and support an amazing event for D/deaf young people in the Scarlets region. Smiles all around; the joy, teamwork, and competitive spirit clear to see on all faces as the rugby balls were flying and the wheelchairs crashing.
“There was also an amazing opportunity for the young people to participate in a Q&A with not only Scarlets players, but a Wales D/deaf rugby player inspiring young people across the region. It was an invaluable event to share inclusive rugby in the west.”
Chris Davies, coach of Wales Deaf Rugby Union said: “For these youngsters coming to an event like this it shows there is a pathway for them in rugby to go on and represent their country. It was brilliant to see so many of them getting involved and also quizzing the Scarlets players on life as a professional rugby player.”
James Bennett of the Phil Bennett Foundation added: “Helping foster sport in our communities and giving opportunities to everyone was a passion of my father’s and it was wonderful to see the impact of our donation to the Scarlet Foundation and how it is helping young people engage in rugby.
“As a foundation, we encourage individuals that are covered in our mission statement and in need of funding to get in touch.”