Arriva Trains Wales | FIELD OF DREAMS FOR WALES DEAF RUGBY DEBUTANTS

FIELD OF DREAMS FOR WALES DEAF RUGBY DEBUTANTS

World rugby champions Wales Deaf travel to face England Deaf at Coventry this weekend seeking to record a third successive victory against their arch rivals.

Gareth John try England will be looking to avenge the 65 – 0 defeat handed out by Wales at Dunvant in 2006 in what promises to be a physical encounter in front of a large home crowd.

Wales welcome two new caps into the starting line up with Taffs Well scrum half Craig Field and Llandovery number 8 Gareth Bennett making their international debuts.

Andrew Healey of Maesteg makes the replacements bench and will also be eager to claim his first international cap.

Steve Commander, team coach for Wales Deaf rugby, said: “This match is one of the highlights of the season and we’re looking forward to the huge challenge posed by England. However we have trained well and we’ll be looking for opportunities to express ourselves. The players take great pride in representing their country and equally as much pride in representing the deaf community of Wales.”

Sponsored by Arriva Trains Wales, the Wales Deaf rugby team are the present Deaf Rugby World Champions having defeated New Zealand at the inaugural 2002 World Cup in Eden Park, Auckland. Players representing the team have an average hearing loss of 25dB across both ears.

Kick off is at 1pm on Sunday 3 February at Broadstreet RFC, Coventry.

Wales Deaf team to play England Deaf;

15. Michael Watkins (Taffs Well)
14. Nigel Francis (Dudley Kingswinsford)
13. Gareth John (Tonna)
12. Richard Hardy (Pontyberem)
11. Chris Haddock (Cwmbran)
10. Richard Lewis (Dunvant)
9.   Craig Field (Taffs Well)
1.   Damien David (Taibach)
2.   James Evans (Birchgrove)
3.   Chris Ratcliffe (GHK)
4.   Richard Watkins (St Julians)
5.   Andrew Rees (Haywards Heath)
6.   Matthew Campbell (Barry, Captain)
7.   Adam Brake (Rumney)
8.   Gareth Bennett (Llandovery)

Replacements

16. Timothy Parkinson (St Leonards)
17. Gareth Thomas (Abercraf)
18. Ioan Jones (Trimsaran)
19. Jonathan Cudd (Y Twmbl)
20. Luke Hamm (Basildon)
21. Ian Rowberry (Worcester Students)
22. Andrew Healey (Maesteg)

Image courtesy of Mark Tamplin photogrpahy