The rapid growth of the Learning Disability Super League over the past few years has lead to yet another milestone for the sport – in what is now the most played disability variant of Rugby League, the LSDL has recently surpassed the 300 participant mark.
Even in a four-year period that was hampered by the pandemic, the number of participants has almost tripled since 2019, whilst the number of participating clubs has risen from 8 to 17 in that time.
With all eyes now firmly on what’s to come in the future, a fitting celebration is all set for this Saturday (August 20) as Widnes Vikings’ DCBL Stadium plays host to the latest LDSL Festival, where the Leeds Rhinos LDSL squad will have the chance to represent the club in a series of fixtures against teams from other Foundations.
Reflecting on such a positive few years for the LDSL, Chris Godfrey, the RFL Social & Inclusion Manager, said: “We’re delighted to reach such a milestone, and immensely proud as we continue to break new ground in Social & Inclusion Rugby League.
“The rise in participating players and clubs is a direct result of the effort and passion being poured into this side of the game by all those at the RFL, Community Integrated Care and the club Foundations – we work closely together with the same drive as always, and are confident that there will be many more milestones to celebrate in the coming years.”
Together, the sport of Rugby League and Community Integrated Care – which is one of Britain’s biggest social care providers and sponsor the LDSL competition – is pursuing a unique mission to promote health, happiness and inclusion through sport.
The constant endeavours made by Club Foundations are pivotal to the success of Social & Inclusion Rugby League, and once again their efforts will bear fruits in Widnes this weekend as we see representation from nine different clubs.
A number of teams are set for a day of LDSL action, with Widnes Vikings, Castleford Tigers, Hull KR, Hull FC, St Helens and Barrow Raiders all sending multiple teams – they’ll also be joined by teams from Leeds Rhinos, Leigh Centurions and Salford Red Devils.
Good luck to all the players competing in this weekend’s festival, have a great afternoon and we look forward to watching you score some brilliant tries!
For more information about the Community Integrated Care Learning Disability Super League and the life-changing opportunities it provides, please visit https://www.communityintegratedcare.co.uk/get-involved/partnerships/ or keep up with the latest news and events on Twitter @LDSuperLeague.