On Sunday 9th January, Bath Rugby Foundation Barbarians played their first mixed ability match on the Rec. During halftime of the Gallagher Premiership match between Bath v Worcester, they took on Worcester Warriors Community Foundation Mixed Ability team.

The Bath Rugby Foundation Barbarians were made up of players from our four mixed ability clubs: Walcot Warriors, Bath Ladies Trojans, Melksham Mixed Ability Rugby, and Yeovil Mixed Ability Rugby.

The fixture was played in a touch format with players coming through the Project Rugby engagement programme, players returning from injury and those just looking to re-engage at a safer level and give back to their local communities.

Dan Hine, Delivery Lead said “It was a really special day for the Foundation to be able to bring all four teams together and put on a show for Mixed Ability Rugby in the South West of England. The development of each of the teams is down to how hard each of the clubs has worked to grow the awareness of their ‘rugby for all’ teams. To then be able to showcase that in front of 12,000 people today will hopefully open the variation of the game up to even more players from many different backgrounds”. 

The Project Rugby programme has been running for five years and this was the first time the Mixed Ability clubs came together to play as one team. There have been many highlights for each of the four clubs this season, with Walcot Warriors finishing runner up in the first ever Tri Nations Cup with 12 Mixed Ability Rugby teams from England, Scotland and Wales competing against each other. Yeovil Rugby Club Mixed Ability hosted their first fixture against Worcester. Bath Ladies Trojans travelled to Sixways Stadium to play Worcester Warriors Inclusive Rugby, before the England Women v USA

Women’s Autumn International and Melksham Mixed Ability launched in November 2021 and are excited for their first fixture at home on Friday 4th February against Walcot Warriors.

Tim Beale from Melksham Mixed Ability said “today has been awesome and I can’t wait to go to training and tell my teammates that I played in front of all of these people”.

Special thanks to Gallagher, who were able to provide free tickets for the players that took part on the day.

To find out more about Mixed Ability Rugby and clubs in your area, please contact [email protected]

Mixed Ability training times can be found below.