LEIGH Centurions are running their first rugby league sessions for those with a disability tonight, aimed at opening up the sport to everyone in the community.
The "taster sessions" start tonight (Monday, December 6) at Golborne High School and are open to anyone with a physical or learning disability.
If successful, the open age sessions will lead to Leigh having a dedicated team for the Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) and the Learning Disability Rugby League (LDRL) Super League's.
For rugby fans who are wheelchair bound, a team catered for this is hoped to follow depending on the success of these initial taster sessions.
Head coach of the PDRL and LDRL teams is Scott Burns, who has spent three and a half years developing the disability teams at Wigan Warriors.
Scott said: "With the physical and learning disability teams, we're hoping to encompass everything and give a chance to everyone to try out the sport.
"A person's disability may have stopped them from accessing the sport in the past, be it in school or in the community, so this is a way to develop players and make rugby league accessible to the whole borough."
With PDRL a full contact sport and and LDRL a tag rugby format, players from both sets of teams will have the opportunity to play in official Super League competitions such as the Magic Weekend as well the PDRL and LDRL World Cups in 2022.
Recognised for his work at Wigan at the UK Coaching Award in 2020, Scott is excited to get started in his role and nurture a competitive rugby league team, irrespective of their disabilities.
With the rivalry that comes with Wigan and Leigh, the father-of-four is relishing getting his team on the pitch for a derby with the Warriors.
He added: "I'm looking forward to building a team to the same standard as Wigan - if not better. We're hoping to get a derby match scheduled for the pre-season next year as there's nothing better than a battle of the borough."
The first two taster sessions take place at Golborne High School at 6pm on December 6 and December 13.
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