The Change Foundation’s Visually Impaired Rugby programme has become the fourth and final contender for the 2019 Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award.
The Change Foundation first launched the visually impaired rugby side in 2016 with a touring side taking on New Zealand ahead of the British & Irish Lions tour, but have made significant progress since.
Supported by the likes of Harlequins and Wasps Legends Charitable Foundation, the Change Foundation have considerably grown the sport which has adapted the rules to suit players who are registered blind. The aim is to have a Premiership of visually impaired rugby and already several sides in the current Gallagher Premiership and Pro 14 registering interest.
The sport took a huge step forward in 2019 when a touring England VI Roses side travelled to Japan to play its first-ever Test Series against the Rugby World Cup hosts.
Reg Clark, CEO of Rhino, said: “The Change Foundation have created a new variant of the sport which has made it accessible to a completely new audience, one that never thought rugby would be an option – it’s a remarkable achievement.”
The winner announced on 17th December, 2019.
Previous winners of the Rhino Grassroots Rugby Award
2015 TAG RUGBY TRUST (UK)
2016 KAMPUCHEA BALOPP (Cambodia)
2017 SKRUM (Swaziland)
