This Friday get ready for a rugby match like no other as The MARIs take on Dragons Allstars at Cardiff Arms Park.
The game sees the Mixed Ability Rugby Invitational (MARIs) club take on your Dragons Allstars with kick off at 6pm.
With both women’s sides taking on each other, it serves as a great precursor to week three of the women’s Six Nations.
The MARIs were established in 2021 with the aim to bring players and coaches together from around the world to play exhibition matches and be part of History.
They take on our very own Dragons Allstars, a male and female mixed ability team which provide opportunities for disabled and non-disabled players to play contact or non-contact rugby together.
There is a strong connection between both sides with Allstars head coach Morgan Jones along with coaches Gary Thomas and Simon Hopkins having all played for the MARIs in the past.
While the MARIs will come together the night before the fixture the Allstars train each week with both contact and touch sides.
Mixed Ability Rugby is an inclusive form of rugby that breaks down barriers to participation, allowing people of all abilities, including those with disabilities, to play together in the same team.
It aims to remove the barriers that prevent people from participating in the sport allowing people that may have thought they could not play rugby, to play, fostering a sense of community, and promoting social inclusion.
Dragons Allstars have selected a number of players from satellite clubs NHSOB and Ebbw Vale who have established close ties to Dragons with the aim to grow the women’s game within the Gwent region.
The focus will be on recruiting players for contact rugby with the option for players to play touch rugby as well.
The game itself will also be livestreamed on Youtube for anyone who is unable to make it down to watch this exhibition of brilliant rugby.
If you or someone you know is interested in joining our Dragons Allstars, know that all abilities are welcome as training sessions and games are tailored and conditioned to suit everyone’s needs and abilities with new members always welcome. You can train from 16 years old and play at 18.
Contact Karen Hopkins - karen.hopkins@dragonsrfc.wales - for more details.
