Leicester Tigers are delighted to announce that we will be launching our first-ever Down syndrome rugby team next month, on October 21.
October is Down syndrome awareness month whilst the idea of launching on the 21st of the month centres around awareness of the 21 chromosomes of those with Down syndrome. Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition; each year, about 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome.
Sessions will run every other Sunday starting on October 22, until the end of the season. There will also be a special introductory session on October 21, which you can find out more about below.
The sessions will be non-contact tag rugby so children and young people with Down Syndrome can learn the basics of rugby, whilst making friends in a safe and fun environment. The sessions will be open to those of all ages.
The club will also be collaborating with ‘Stand Out Socks’ retail striped socks to help raise funds along with those provided by the Leicester Tigers Foundation: 100% of proceeds from sales will go toward the Leicester Tigers Down syndrome rugby programme.
The socks will be available in the Leicester Tigers Club shop, both in store and online, from Saturday, October 21.
How can you get involved?
On Saturday, October 21, there will be a fun session held at Leicester Tigers' Oval Park training ground to connect the Down syndrome community together in Leicestershire and show that rugby is for everyone! This will be held from 11.30am.
This introductory session will then be followed by tea, coffee and snacks before we will head to Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
At half-time in Leicester Tigers' opening Gallagher Premiership home fixture against Sale Sharks, the players from both teams will be allowed onto the pitch to either play a fun game of tag or to walk around the pitch and soak up the atmosphere.
Following this, from Sunday, October 22 onwards, there will be sessions every other weekend until the end of the season. These sessions will be held at the club’s Oval Park training ground and sessions will run from 11.30am – 12.30pm.
If you would like to get involved, please submit your details via the form below.
