Angus is to get a new clan early next year.
But instead of wearing its own-design tartan kilts and ties, it will feature red rugby scrum caps in a new initiative to encourage players with disabilities into the sport.
The Strathmore Clan will be created by Strathmore Rugby Club Community Trust in partnership with Trust Rugby International (tri) early next year as part of its mission to make rugby and its wellbeing benefits available to everyone in the community.
Up to five adult players with disabilities feature in each tri team, who play wearing red scrum caps alongside able-bodied players who support them on the field.
Unified rugby is used across Scotland to provide people with disabilities the opportunity to build confidence and social skills by engaging in a controlled game of contact rugby against other teams, while also accommodating their individual needs.
Anyone can play as long as they can walk unaided without the use of a walking stick.
The Strathmore Clan is already being supported by Montrose and District RFC, Brechin RFC and Strathmore RFC.
The first competitive unified rugby game in Angus has been lined up for Forfar’s Inchmacoble Park in Forfar on Saturday March 17 next year between a Strathmore XV and the Caledonia Clan, hours before the Calcutta Cup game.
A training day held to trial the idea has already proved a success.
Trust community project coordinator Josh Gabriel-Clarke says: “We’re very excited to be announcing this project with tri as we aim to provide opportunities for everyone, regardless of age or ability, to partake in rugby and enjoy the wider benefits it brings”.
Tri founder Jamie Armstrong said: “When we started tri Unified Rugby in June 2012 as a taster project with NHS Ayrshire and Arran, we never envisaged working nationally.
“Now within six years we have planted the seed of opportunity to grow unified rugby across Scotland.
“It is inspiring to us that Strathmore is the latest club to pick up the unified rugby ball and run with it and we’re looking forward to working with the Strathmore Clan and building them in to our national player development pathway.”
