The ARI Championship results for the 2025/26 season are in – collating the results of 238 groups, clubs and teams that play full-contact rugby union and involve players with and without disabilities.
The results especially reward the playing of full matches, but with a win bonus to recognise that rugby is a competitive sport. The table highlights the clubs playing the most matches over the season and taking an active role in their communities. Athletes with and without disabilities playing “mainstream” clubs, to quote Sundays Well Rebels, “just another rugby team”.
Link to ethos can be found here!
The results are another triumph for the Llanelli Warriors club, who again head the table with their men’s team playing 22 fixtures between August 1st 2025 and July 31st 2026. It includes a recent result, as they have already started the new season, and their very successful 7s festival, which saw various Mixed Ability and non-Mixed Ability teams come together in men’s and women’s competition. It was a double success for the club with their women’s team being the highest all-female side. Perhaps the secret to the club’s success is not relying on other Mixed Ability sides for fixtures. True to the Mixed Ability ethos, they regularly play mainstream sides and are fully integrated into their local rugby community – as equal members, without being separated, classified, or identified.
Of their 22 fixtures, 11 were against mainstream clubs.
Participation in the Warriors 7s festival saw Stafford Marvels pip Port Talbot Panthers to 2nd place, continuing their meteoric rise. Stafford are another club with a women’s team in the Marbelles.
Port Talbot Panthers registered another 3rd place – consistently at the top end of the table, they will rue the games they lost to the weather this season. They do have the consolation of beating the Warriors 3 times over the season.
Worcester, Bolton, Iruna and Malone again all jostle around the top 10, and are joined by Colwyn Bay Stingrays. The North Walians are rewarded for a big step up in activities and a willingness to travel (though with the formation of Oswestry Flying Eagles, they now have a more local rival). Derby Bucks also return to the top 20 that features 6 nations: England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Spain and Wales all represented.
Throughout the table, the increasingly worldwide scope of inclusive rugby is reflected with Australia All-abilities teams having a growing impact and more South American countries represented.
The ARI Championship also reflects the reality that the path towards fully fledged Mixed Ability rugby, just like the one represented by the Warriors, the Glads, the Bumbles or many other established sides, is a journey that depends on many local factors, and often starts with providing touch or tag opportunities for disabled players, for then evolving into… just ‘normal, 15-a-side rugby! This Championship wants to be an encouragement to show that normalising participation in rugby is possible, and can be achieved over time without limiting players or creating new rules.
Every entry on this table represents not only a success in itself, but is also the tip of the iceberg. Behind every festival appearance are training sessions, meetings, social events, travelling, often other sports such as hockey, boxing, Fusball, soccer and basketball. It represents endless interactions and positive promotion of people with disabilities taking an active part in communities across the world.
Points are awarded thus: 50 points for a full rugby match, 20 points for a win, 10 points for a draw. 20 points for shorter matches and festival days.
Results are gleaned from Facebook and direct messages. To ensure that your results are counted, please tag @AbilityRugbyInternational on Facebook.
The new championship started on August 1st; let us hope for a longer list of clubs playing a higher number of games – good luck to all!
0 comentarios