A rugby league to create inclusive teams and leadership

Trust Rugby International’s Unified Rugby uses mixed-ability rugby to include people with learning disabilities. Local, community-led hubs teach skills, teamwork and leadership, train coaches and share a free blueprint for replication. Since 2012: 1,000+ sessions, 700+ participants, 150+ coaches.

Trust Rugby Spain is an NGO headquartered in Valencia that was founded to use rugby as an instrument of inclusive sports and disability-led leadership. Unified Rugby is an adapted, copyrighted form of rugby for adults with and without disabilities, blending physical sport with robust leadership and life-skills training. With eight active hubs across five countries, by 2025 Unified Rugby was played in more than 1,000 sessions, and is mainstreaming its approach with the national rugby league in Spain.

Problems Targeted

Persons with learning disabilities are generally excluded from mainstream sport and leadership training.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Trust Rugby Spain was founded in Valencia, Spain, in 2009 as a community initiative to make rugby inclusive for persons with learning disabilities and to promote mixed-ability teams. In 2010 the programme went international with Trust Rugby International (TRI), a charitable organization based in Scotland. In 2025, TRI ran a total of eight hubs in Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, and the United States. The Unified Rugby model centres on inclusive team sessions that build skills, teamwork, and confidence. Hubs are affordable, community-based, and led by volunteers, families, and players with disabilities in leadership roles. Caregivers and support workers train alongside participants to become accredited coaches and mentors. Hubs are co-created with rugby clubs, families, and support workers following six stages; (1) engaging partners; (2) co-designing with communities; (3) testing sessions; (4) expanding and empowering; (5) celebrating together; and (6) ensuring local ownership for sustainability. All hubs contribute their insights to a central Learning Hub, where knowledge and best practice are shared. Since 2012, Unified Rugby has been played in more than 1,000 sessions, involved over 700 participants with disabilities, and trained 150+ inclusive coaches. Over 40 players with learning difficulties have taken on enabling roles. In Spain, the model’s success led the Spanish Rugby Federation to adopt its education framework, growing inclusive clubs nationwide from 15 to 52.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Trust Rugby International began with charitable funding and now runs on a blended local model of donations, sponsorships, grants, fundraising, and partnerships. Each hub is self-managed for sustainability. The freely shared blueprint and resources enable global replication. (#ZeroCall26)

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