I didn’t like getting dirty and stuff, but now I don’t have a problem with it and besides, I get to meet new people.

When I started playing rugby my health wasn’t good, but now I’m fitter and healthier and have new skills. I know what I’m doing on the rugby field and have a set routine.

As club captain, I led my team – the Bumble Bee Barbarians – to the inaugural Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup Final in Bradford in 2015.

The Bumbles made it to the finals with my help. I even came up with the name Bumble Bees to maintain the connection to the mainstream team, the Bees.

I have done many tours, including France, Spain, Wales, Scotland and Ireland, but I can’t tell you much about them because “what happens on the tour, stays on the tour”.

Taking the sport beyond the playing field

I was asked to join the International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS) as a coach and expert. I started as a volunteer but eventually started getting paid for my work.

At IMAS we prepare and give presentations initially to various rugby clubs, but now many new sports have set up mixed ability teams and we now go to colleges and universities and even train doctors.

For example, we offer internships to students, visit doctors’ offices and train social workers so that they can help people live healthier lives through sport.

I also helped create a guide for newly formed clubs. – which also contained videos – plus other easy-to-read documents. I also went to Holland to coach the national rugby governing body there and do a bit of coaching.

At this time I was also training to be a coach with White Rose Rugby Coaching.

I wanted to help people by working with people and I also wanted to have qualifications to work in rugby.

When lockdown came, I made a series of videos with IMAS to show simple ways to exercise outside in the garden to stay fit and healthy, particularly for people with a disability or chronic conditions such as diabetes.

I managed to stay connected with the audience and bring the training online – and so Pandemic Positivity was born.

When I had to take the exams for my coaching qualification, I was given a scribe and extra time. I was very proud when I passed and this is the highest qualification I have ever achieved.

White Rose is very happy with me and I now have a paying job.

I am a qualified coach and can deliver multisport to primary and secondary schools, summer camps and sports clubs across Yorkshire.. I even held a few sessions in a prison!

I really enjoy working as a coach. It’s great, I’m happy with what I’m doing and I’m more active.

My family is proud of me and my sister and mum are both very happy, especially when I won the Coach Core Graduate of the Year Apprenticeship Award.

I want everyone to just come out like I did and try mixed ability sports because there is nothing to fear.

You are always welcome in the clubs, you get to meet different people with different abilities, and it’s also fun, you go out and make lots of friends.

I also invite you to follow IMAS on social media – we are on Facebook, Instagram and on X (formerly Twitter) – to find out what we do and get involved.