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.

Llanelli Warriors deservedly achieved their third victory in five editions of the annual England v Wales mixed ability rugby international game. With the battle of Burry Port, after 80 minutes of great rugby, the home team avenged their national side’s defeat prevailing over the Bumbles for 37-10.

The Bumbles scored only two tries, but showed a fierce spirit and a great teamwork, which they must be proud of. All the players did their best, supporting each other and playing according to the Spirit of the Game.
Outstanding, among the others, were the performances of Ahsan Sakandar and Martin Sands, who came close to score its first international try.

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.