Inclusive Rugby at Wimbledon Rugby Football Club
An Inclusive Rugby programme at Wimbledon Rugby Football Club, just down the road from Tooting, is helping young players with Special Educational Needs and Additional Vulnerabilities, as it celebrates more than 12 years of growth, community, and achievement.
Delivered with the support of partners (including Howden Insurance), the programme offers a safe, supportive, and structured environment where children of all abilities can develop confidence, communication skills, and a love for rugby. The initiative has grown into a thriving section supported by dedicated volunteer coaches and families.
Head Coach, Stéph Laventure, tells us, “We are humbled and privileged to know we are making a difference. We’ve seen incredible transformations — players who initially struggled with mobility, confidence, or communication are now running, playing, and expressing themselves through rugby.”
Sessions are designed to mirror mainstream rugby as closely as possible, incorporating warm-ups, passing drills, tagging, mauling, scrummaging, and even match play scenarios. This approach has enabled several participants to transition successfully into mainstream age-group teams.
Players have gone on to take part in major rugby events, including appearances at finals and national showcases at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.
One particularly powerful moment highlighted the programme’s impact, says Stéph: “I remember when one of our non-verbal players came up to me and said, ‘pass me the ball.’ I had to walk away bursting with pride.”
Families gather weekly to not only to support their children but to share experiences and build lasting connections. Some of the programme’s earliest participants have even returned as volunteer coaches, helping to inspire the next generation.
The club is aiming to expand its impact further by launching an inclusive rugby festival in partnership with the renowned Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens — one of the largest school rugby competitions in the world.
More info via the Wimbledon RFC website.