User:Tony Stoyles

England Deaf Rugby Union

EDRU was set up by Marcel Hirshman & Steve Wherry to enable the Deaf and Hard of Hearing people to get together and enjoy the sport of rugby union and be able to participate in every aspect whether training, match, or knowing socially that there aren't any communication barriers due to a common ground.

England Deaf Rugby Union (EDRU) was set up in the year 2003, as it was recognised that that there were quite a few Deaf and Hard of Hearing players who would like the opportunity to represent their country. The reason EDRU got set up was because there was the first ever Deaf Rugby World Championships which was held in New Zealand back in 2002 and yet England Deaf was not there as we did not have a team even though Wales Deaf had one and they won the first World Cup.

This identified a missing gap for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing players in England so EDRU set up a team to compete

RFU and EDRU have been working in partnership since 2003. EDRU initially approached the RFU for help and guidance in establishing an England Deaf Rugby side. Recently we have been approved as one of their RFU's Associate members. EDRU currently have a large database of players currently playing in the RFU club structure but we are still looking for more players around the country who are capable of reaching the International level of England Deaf Rugby Union

Progress has allowed the organisation to set up Deaf Rugby Excellence Centres across the country, which are still in development at the moment (June 2015)

Rules & Regulations for Deaf / Hard of Hearing Rugby– how these differ from the regular RFU Rules & Regulations…they simply don’t!!

www.englanddeafrugby.com

President Marcel Hirshman Chairman Tony Stoyles Secretary Lyndon James Treasurer Susan James Kit Manager Wendy Faulkner Committee Richard Jackson Committee Dan McAllister Team Manager Gina Iquanello Head Coach Sean Fletcher Asst Coach Aldam Mills Asst Coach Paul Bailey Communicator Mary Lewis Communicator Barry Daws Head Physio Mike Ho Asst Physio Sophie Asst Physio tbc Video Media Wayne Faulkner