Children with disabilities will receive a special welcome at new classes that are being launched by didi rugby Swansea.
Sketty Park Community Centre will host didi disability sessions from Friday 14 September from 4-5pm.
All didi rugby classes are inclusive and welcome children with disabilities.
But didi rugby Swansea head coach Robyn Lock has decided to hold a weekly class aimed specifically at 3 to 8-year-olds whose parents may have been reluctant to take their kids to sporting classes in the past.
And it all started with a chat with a didi mum a few months ago.
Autistic son
“I had a conversation with one of the parents from our St Helens classes and she has an autistic son who has loved didi rugby,” she said.
“There are a lot of parents out there with kids who have disabilities who are not confident enough to take them to a classes like didi rugby.
“But I wanted to promote something that was for everyone and so we have decided to run this class.
“I have worked with Sport Wales and Disability Sport Wales to get things right.
“It will be aimed at 3 to 8 year olds but we want to also take kids who may be say, 11, but have a development stage of a younger child and give them a stepping stone into an active life.
“I like to think we are setting a trend for organisations to deliver disability classes.”
Disability classes
Robyn is keen that the Sketty sessions will build confidence, develop skills and create happy memories for those who attend and asks that any parent who wants to talk to her first before bringing their child is welcome to give her a call for a chat.
Robyn, who also plays for the Ospreys Women’s side launched the Swansea franchise in December 2017 and has driven its growth at a tremendous rate since she started.
She now runs classes at five venues in Swansea and has just expanded to Port Talbot, Neath and Llanelli too.
And she doesn’t intend stopping there.
“I had not planned to expand until 18 months down the line so I am really pleased with how things have gone,” she said. “It’s something that I am really proud of.
“We are the first franchise in Wales and we are setting the bar high.
“It’s a scary experience. I have friends who are buying houses and I am starting a business! But it is also very exciting. We are the only franchise offering didi rugby in Wales and I am ambitious about spreading the word of what we do.”