Magical moments define the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League and there will be few greater than Sunday, when our LDRL players pulled on their Leeds Rhinos shirts and took to the field to play a match for the first time in almost two years.
With the coronavirus pandemic placing the team’s activity on hold for so long, it was an emotional comeback for the team who were just delighted to be able to be back together and play the game that they love.
We were delighted to welcome our friends from York City Knights Foundation over to Kirkstall in order to stage the exhibition fixture at Leeds Rugby Academy, with both sides forging a close relationship during the break from play through online training sessions and various other ways of engaging whilst in lockdown and being stuck at home.
The game gave all the players a great chance to shake off the rust and showcase many of the skills they have been developing through their RLWC2021 Skills Journals which were sent to all players to complete in recent months, with set challenges and activities set by different teams competing at the tournament later this year.
There was also an exciting debut for our latest recruit Mark, who is supported by Community Integrated Care in Leeds and also enjoyed the opportunity to spend his day off as a photographer for the match as part of the RLWC2021 volunteering programme.
In the end, a fantastic showcase of LDSL and huge smiles on everyone’s faces proved that the only winner on the afternoon was Rugby League, having given these players a chance to enjoy another unforgettable afternoon and return to playing the sport after so long away.
For more information about our Leeds Rhinos Learning Disability Super League team and details of how to join, please contact our Team Manager Ben Berry on ben.berry@leedsrhinosfoundation.org.
Visit https://www.communityintegratedcare.co.uk/ldsuperleague.
