Princess Anne attends inclusive rugby festival

3 hours ago

Lorna Bailey,BBC CWRand

Alec Blackman,West Midlands

News image — Princess Anne is Patron of Wooden Spoon, the charity that organises Tag Fest 26 and raises money so young people with disabilities can play rugby

Sarah Elisabeth Photography/ Wooden Spoon Princess Anne, the Princess Royal makes a presentation to a player in a wheelchair at Tag Fest 26. The Princess is wearing as a buff-coloured trouser suit over a blue blouse. The player shaking hands with her is in a wheelchair. They have red hair and glasses that are held on with a plastic band around their head. — Princess Anne is Patron of Wooden Spoon, the charity that organises Tag Fest 26 and raises money so young people with disabilities can play rugby

Princess Anne was the guest of honour at a tag rugby competition for players with learning disabilities.

Tag Fest 26 was organised by the charity Wooden Spoon, which aims to build inclusion through the sport - the Princess Royal is the charity's patron.

The day-long tournament, at Broadstreet Rugby Club near Coventry, attracted teams from across the UK and some from further afield on Saturday.

Club president Simon Skene said: "It's a fantastic event that's inclusive for around 400 kids and young adults with learning difficulties, autism, all sorts of disabilities who enjoy a fantastic day of fun rugby, games and discos."

This was the third year the event had been held at Broadstreet RFC on behalf of Wooden Spoon and Skene said it had grown year-on-year.

"It's huge now. We had teams from Trinity Guild and Old Leamingtonians, but the teams come from all over the country, all over the UK and sometimes internationally as well," he said.

Sarah Elisabeth Photography/Wooden Spoon A large group made up of dozens of children, and adults, mostly wearing rugby kit, are performing warm-up exercises on a field. In the background tents and gazebos can be seen, with more people walking along them. — About 400 young people with a range of learning disabilities took part in Wooden Spoon's Tag Fest 26

The day is just a single day of games and fun, but Skene said he understood Wooden Spoon was considering making it a full weekend in the future.

"Rugby is a very inclusive sport anyway and we all adhere to the rugby family, so lots of clubs help each other and when you have a rugby charity, it felt only right that we should get involved."

Skene added that Princess Anne "spoke to many of the parents, volunteers and lots of the children and young adults there. Very approachable and I think she had a fantastic time".

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