The Bumbles Bees arrived in Spain with a 25 players and facilitators backed up by two physios and 25 helpers and supporters.  Bradford University provided and funded three of their students to join the touring party and provide safeguarding to those players requiring the most assistance off the playing pitch.  The Bumble Bee team is supported by their Charity who raised nearly  £5000 from sponsors and benefactors to cover players transport and team kit.  Despite only winning one of their five matches the Bumbles made many friends and in many regards set the playing standard for other teams to emulate to achieve a very inclusive fully inclusive contact sport. Massive credit is given to their proud coaching team of Dan Cookson, Darryl Wilson Jake Goodwin, and Si Meyers.

The Irish again made the final but lost in hard-fought game to Argentina’s Pumpas.  The Pumpas were crowned winners at the closing event but the other two trophies were both won by the Bumbles. The team were voted by the referees to receive the Spirit of Rugby award for their fair play and sportsmanship.  In the world of mixed ability Sport this award represents the highest of accolades and was received with great applause by the team Captain Stephen Rhodes.  The award for players of the tournament is chosen by all the other teams and was awarded to a very proud “Big” Lee Hainsworth in recognition of his selfless hard running rugby but also for him having shaken hands and introduced himself to every player supporter and official he could find over his five days in Spain.

The attached photo shows Lee on the left being awarded his trophy and Stephen Rhodes on the right with the Spirit of Rugby trophy.  The Spirit of Rugby trophy stands very proudly in the Bumbles trophy cabinet at the Bradford and Bingley rugby club until it is handed back at the 2019 Tournament where ever that may be held.  The Bumbles are already preparing for IMART 2020.

Who were they? Could they play rugby? Could they be tackled? Could they run?

The opponents were not a type of team that Mosborough had previously faced. They were the Bumbles. A mixed ability team from Bingley that included players with and without learning disabilities.

The club had been prepared perfectly and reasonable adjustment had been considered, such as taking those who couldn’t walk a long distance, by car to the pitch. Despite all this, the Mosborough players still were wary of what the game would look like. Would it be just a jog and a cuddle? Would it be tokenistic?

After a warm welcome by Mosborough and far too much cuddling beforehand (by Bumbles new player, Giddy) the team changed. The away side emblematic of its namesake in bright yellow and black stripes and the home side in jet black with blood red flashes, they headed over to the pitch. I swear it was about a 15 mile hike there and this out of shape Bumble was ready for a rest.

However, no rest for the wicked and both teams warmed up together. Mixed in as one, the home side were fantastic at integrating the away lads and ensuring no groins were pulled, no matter how many pretty ladies were on the touchline.
Next came the first real work. Mosborough as most team do when playing the bumbles, had a wide range of questions and the best way to answer these was to have a quick game of “pick and go” and touch and pass. The answers came quickly.

• Yes you can tackle the Bumbles
• Yes they will tackle you
• Yes they do hit hard
• Yes they do have silky skills in the backline ( forwards are just battering rams)
• Yes they are just another team.

Kick off came and the teams lined up. Prestigious premiership official Robin Goodliffe was in charge and from the outset drew his lines of authority. The teams had decided on 4 quarters of 20 minutes in the South Yorkshire Sun which enable them to take water on board, kindly provided along with bananas, by the local Asda.

After pressuring the home line for a good 5 minutes, Mosborough got a little lucky. Running in two tries from distance and exploiting the commitment to attack from all 15 of the Bumbles. The Bumbles hit back with aplomb. 4 tries was the response, most converted by Big Lee Hainesworth and scored by backs and forwards.

The lead edged back and fore or the next 60 minutes with no team more than a try or two ahead. By now the home team were fully aware of the power and pace of the Bumbles and a few of the old boys were blowing out of their backsides after chasing and failing to stop new boys Giddy and Michael scoring on the wings.

Then came the last 10 minutes. With Mosborough leading by 5 the Bumbles scored the best try of their tenure as a rugby team. Some 7’s style magic ended with flanker and Italian love machine, Martino diving over the sacred line.

35 -35. 2 minutes left. The Bumbles forwards, relentless in pod work and pressure edged to the line. Two failed attempts ended with last season’s captain, Kevin Pringle ploughing over the whitewash. Big Lee converted for 42-35 and the ref blew the final whistle.

After many more hugs (from everyone this time) the Bumbles and Mosborough headed for the changing rooms and drink-up.

In the bar afterwards, pie and peas (and beans) were consumed and beer was downed – well sort of. Men of the match (Big Lee of the Bumbles and the captain of Mosborough – Jake Eyre) and Dick of the day (Cookie for the Bumbles – a number 8 kicking??? – and  Jamie Hollis of the home side) took their places for the downing of the obligatory pint of something disgusting and dark. Big Lee won of course with Cookie second. The Home side so let down by their players that Big Lee even had to finish downing their pints!

Steve 

The premier David Cameron, in conferring this unique award says:

‘Anthony was born with cerebral palsy. As a rugby fanatic he had always wanted to play the sport, but when he approached clubs he was offered the position of water boy or encouraged to play tag rugby with other players with disabilities. With the support of the RFU (Rugby Football Union) and the Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club, Anthony set up Bumble Bee Barbarians RUFC, Britain’s first mixed ability team in 2009.’

The Bumbles and IMAS are looking forward to highlight all this incredible work hosting the 1st ever Mixed Ability Rugby World Tournament next August in Bradford!

RFU president Bob Reeves decided to reward Bumbles’ passion and work, with the most important national honour, highlighting  the impact this project has in transforming lives and local community, enhancing individual skills and passion, and allowing previously excluded people to enjoy full contact rugby.

Equally important during these years has been the role of the WEA Inclusion in Rugby Group, that features players with Learning Disabilities in order to promote this inclusive model and showing that sport and education can coexist and share the same values.

The award ceremony took place at Twickenham Stadium amid a crowd of 50,000 spectators flocked to watch the England XV v Barbarians Game, among them the full Bumbles squad moved en masse from Bradford.

In this extraordinary moment and as a sign of gratitude the Bumbles would like to thank RFU Regional Development Officer Hamish Pratt, the Worker’s Educational Association Yorkshire and Humber, our mentors Llanelli Warriors, Bradford and Bingley Club and all the coaches, players, friends and supporters without whom none of this would have ever been possible.