The Ulster Barbarians were formed in April 2013 and they are the only club of its type in Ulster. The Barbarians have the full support of and are affiliated with Disability Sport NI; the Irish Wheelchair Association and Irish Wheelchair Rugby.
Chairman of the Ulster Barbarians, Bernard Rooney, stated: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the funding and very thankful to both the Bruce Wake Charitable Trust and BT for their support. Prior to receiving this funding we had to borrow chairs on a weekly basis from the Gaelic Warriors Wheelchair Rugby Club in Dublin. The monies will be used to purchase a number of our own specialised wheelchair rugby sports chairs and this is a massive boost for the club as we move forward.”
Wheelchair Rugby is a mixed team sport for male and female quadriplegic athletes. It’s a unique sport created by athletes with a disability and it combines elements of American Football, basketball and handball. To be eligible to play wheelchair rugby, individuals must have a disability which affects the arms and legs. Most players have spinal cord injuries with full or partial paralysis of the legs and partial paralysis of the arms. Other disability groups who play include cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, amputations, polio, and other neurological conditions. Men and women compete on the same teams and in the same competitions.
For further information on the Ulster Barbarians contact Bernard Rooney on 07770777265. To discuss funding opportunities for your club, please contact David Johnston (Club & Community Development Officer, Ulster Rugby) by emailing David.Johnston@ulsterrugby.com.