Scottish Deaf Rugby Team History
In 1999 the Scottish Deaf Rugby Club was set up to give deaf/hard of hearing, and hearing impaired people the opportunity to bring rugby into their own environment, and to encourage the deaf world, which has its own individual language and culture to learn rugby, so it would be easier for them to learn the basics of the game, rather than trying to move into a club where communication would be at best difficult , and at worst impossible for those with no rudiments of the game whatsoever. Livingston RFC volunteered their facilities to the Deaf Rugby Club, free of charge.
The first game the club played was against Livingston 3rds, followed by Ross High 3rds, at Tranent and again Livingston. Patrick a member of Livingston RFC, organised a dream night of coaching with Mr Ian McGeechan at Murrayfield.
This was a memorable evening and the resulting publicity, with a spot on the BBC news sports section, and a report in the Scottish Rugby Magazine, raised the profile. This exposure brought forward 4 regular club players from around the country, with hearing problems.
The Club side have played two ‘Internationals’ unrecognised, both against Wales. We lost the first game on the 20th May 2000 26-0 at Pyle in Wales. The return game was played at Livingston, resulting in a win for the Welsh 23-17.
Again our profile was raised by the appearance at Livingston for the Welsh visit of Mr.John Thorburn SRU domestic game manager, and Mr.Bill Watson then SRU Chief Executive. Thereafter lack of numbers for training etc. made it impossible to continue with the Club.
A Deaf International Team was set up, separated from the Deaf Club, under the rules of the IRB and the SRU.
* Point 1 that the SRU requires each player to be a playing member of an affiliated rugby club.
* Point 2 proof of nationality: i.e birth certificates etc to ensure that those chosen to play the international game did indeed qualify.
Since the formation of the IDRO (International Deaf Rugby Organisation), games now having international status must abide by the IRB regulations.
To qualify for an international place the IDRO require proof, by audiogram, of deaf or hard of hearing loss as set out in their guidelined. In Scotland’s case to ensure compliance each audiogram was mooted by Mary McEwan, official Audiologist to the Scottish International Team, without whose help we could not have proceeded. Mary is very much appreciated by the players.
SRU recognise our Deaf International Team, who allow us use of the official logo. As funding is a problem, the squad are not able to train as regularly as we had hoped.
We were trying to put together a team for the First International Deaf World Cup in New Zealand 2002, but lack of players and no funding made that impossible.
Our current situation is that we are finding players the length and breath of the UK. To date we have 27 players, playing for clubs ranging from Greenock to Fife, Leith, Abderdeen to Annan and Chicago
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We are always on the lookout for more players.
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