LPF welcomes Premiership Rugby’s determination to ensure that club rugby is inclusive to all and applauds the bold steps being taken by the organisation and its clubs to this end. We are looking forward to working alongside Premiership Rugby and to supporting everyone involved in delivering an inclusive experience for all.
In responding to the recent publication of the joint DWP & DCMS study that highlighted the frustrations of disabled sports fans in the UK, Premiership Rugby released the following statement last week:
“Premiership Rugby is determined to make professional club rugby an inclusive, safe and fun experience. We have a long established, productive partnership with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which last season launched ‘Rugby4All.’ This programme, commissioned by the DCMS is designed to address inequality by supporting increased participation of underrepresented groups within the game. The programme offers targeted provision for women and girls, black, Asian and minority ethnic groups and focuses too on disabled access,” said Wayne Morris Premiership Rugby’s Community and CSR Director.
“The first stage of the Disabled Access component is a comprehensive audit of the Premiership grounds and we have commissioned the market-leading Level Playing Field to carry it out. The audit is crucial and is due to take place in the 2015-16 Aviva Premiership Rugby season which starts next month.
“The audit of all our grounds is the first stage of our objective to provide an inclusive environment for people with disabilities and to make recommendations, if any change is required. We look forward to working with the Government, its agencies and we would welcome further discussions with the Government Ministers on this vital issue.”
23.9.2015