Canada is sending its first ever mixed ability rugby team to the International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament, which can be held in Cork, Ireland from June 5 to 10.
Oshawa Vikings Rugby Club will signify Canada, and Jeff Stralak and Elliot Smith are each excited to be a part of the history-making journey team.
“It’s something that very few get to do, to represent your club or your country in an international tournament, and to do it with this group of athletes it’s humbling, exciting. We’re nervous, we’re jacked up,” mentioned Jeff Stralak, a long-time rugby participant.
“To do it together and to be the first, not only the first Canadian team to ever play a mixed ability contact rugby game at a World Cup — we’re the first from North America to enter a team in this tournament, and we’re hoping to do our club and country proud. It’s really exciting for all of us.”
Fresh Air9:13‘Everybody is only a teammate’; Canada sends its first ever mixed ability rugby team to an international competition
Jeff Stralak, a long-time rugby participant and member of the Mixed Ability Rugby team, and Elliot Smith, a participant with autism on the Mixed Ability Rugby team, discuss in regards to the significance of inclusivity in sports activities, what it is meant to them to be a part of the team and why they’re trying ahead to representing Canada on the upcoming competition in Ireland.
Elliot Smith, a participant with autism, says he is simply pleased for the chance to signify Canada.
“We’re just going to be showing that we’re there to have fun at the tournament,” he mentioned.
“No matter if we win or lose, we’re just there to have fun and be inclusive”.
Some 1,100 rugby gamers from 14 international locations will collect in Cork to compete. The six-day occasion can even see the inaugural Women’s Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament.
Now we’re going to signify our membership and our nation abroad in a full contact rugby recreation, it is simply been wonderful.– Jeff Stralak, long-time rugby participant
For Smith, taking part in with the Oshawa Vikings Rugby Club is all about “having fun” and “enjoying yourself.”
“[It’s] just being inclusive and working together with [players with] disabilities and players without disabilities,” he mentioned.
Meanwhile, Stralak says taking part in mixed talents sport has been “a light bulb moment” for him.
He says “I’ve had the time of my life” working with athletes who’ve by no means touched a rugby ball, and seeing them change into formidable gamers.
“Now we’re going to represent our club and our country overseas in a full contact rugby game, it’s just been amazing,” he mentioned.
As somebody who performed sports activities all his life, Stralak mentioned he assumed everyone bought the identical possibilities he did.
But after speaking with the athletes, their dad and mom and relations, he realized that was not the case, and a few folks simply weren’t given an opportunity.
Additionally, he mentioned there have been “barriers” — not with the athletes and the folks with disabilities, “but society just putting barriers up in our minds or assuming the barriers are there that these athletes couldn’t play the game.”
“Once that gets taken out, once that dropped in my mind, it all clicked. Like, Elliot’s gone from not knowing how to play rugby to now being a beast on the field, and it’s just great to see,” Stralak mentioned.
Elliot says he is change into “very good at rugby,” and he has some phrases of recommendation for anybody who’s by no means performed the sport.
“Just get out there, be active, show that you’re there to have fun and learn how to work together with disabilities and without disabilities.”
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