Rugby codes join forces

teaming up: Steve Tyrrell (right), Paul Scanlon-Wells (centre) and Alex Frost (local footballer who will give touch rugby a go in the summer).

THE TWO rugby codes are set to join forces in Oldham.

The RFL’s ‘league for all’ officer Paul Scanlon-Wells and Steve Tyrrell, competitions manager with Oldham Integrated Youth, have worked together to design a programme to increase participation in rugby in the borough through a series of touch tag and masters events.

Touch and tag has generic rules bridging both codes, while masters rugby league is a version of the game designed for over-35s with modified tackling.

The latter will be showcased on a diversity day to be held at the home of Rochdale Mayfield on Saturday, May 22.

Tyrrell is bringing over his Oldham RUFC Vets team, who will go head-to-head with Mayfield under masters rugby league rules, while Oldham St Anne’s junior coach Bing Findlater will see his West Indies side take on a joint Fijian and New Zealand side — playing in their first ever masters fixture.

Abid Hussain of Greenhill FC, based in Glodwick, is involved having organised for Ikram Butt to bring along a British Pakistani RL team, who play against a Rochdale and Oldham Under-20s select team, while a Kabaddi event is also being held.

“Steve’s work as competitions manager dovetails with some of my targets for increasing participation levels,” explained Scanlon-Wells.

“We have formed a good working relationship which has developed into a mutual desire to see the game of rugby grow in the town.

“We have had a number of discussions about the differences in the codes and Steve, as Oldham RUFC’s development executive, took the discussion one step further and asked me to play for their Vets team, which I did against Eccles in December, and said that he would in turn like to play a game of masters rugby league.

“Over the weeks we have been looking into avenues where we can work together and increase participation in the sport.”

Also on the agenda is a touch rugby competition, to be played at Oldham RUFC’s home of Manor Park every Wednesday night between June 9 and July 14 (6.30pm to 9pm).

Any team that wishes to take part, or any individual seeking a side to play for, should contact Steve (07984 454458) or Paul (07775 022797) for further details.

In addition, as part of the programme, gay rugby union team Manchester Village Spartans have been invited to play in a festival at Oldham RUFC in the summer.

“It is great to see union and league working together to expand the game of rugby, regardless of code divisions,” said Tyrrell.

“The partnership between Oldham and Mayfield does show we can work together on community initiatives and open up our venues to a more diverse population, allowing them to take part in what I feel is the greatest sport for both participation and family involvement.”