By Harry Guinness
The Sunday’s Well Rebels got their Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament title defence off to a good start this afternoon in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. The Rebels, Ireland’s only mixed ability rugby team, beat English side, the Shropshire Stags, 29-5 in their first pool game.
James Mulcahy, Brian O’Leary, Conor Nagle, Mick Moynihan and Danny O’Regan each ran in a try with O’Regan adding the honours on two occasions.
The Rebels coach, former Munster Ladies player and next season’s player manager, Maeve D’Arcy says, “It was a team effort. The boys knew that the Stags were coming out to try and make a statement by beating the world champions. By working together, sticking to the fundamentals and playing our game, we didn’t let them.”
In mixed ability rugby, people with and without disabilities play together on the same team. Aside from a few small changes such as uncontested scrums and rolling substitutes, it’s the same as regular XVs rugby.
The Rebels won the inaugural Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament in England in 2015. They play their second pool game on Thursday, and assuming they win, will be through to the semi finals on the same day with the final on Friday.
Members of the team and management staff are available for interview or comment. Photographs can also be made available. Please contact tour manager Liam Maher or press liaison officer Rebecca Archer through SundaysWellRebels@gmail.com or on +353851692231.
Freelance journalist and photographer Harry Guinness is also travelling with the team. For editorial work, contact harry@harryguinness.com or +353868616106