TORNADOES vs MARIs

Encasing architecture

We are extremely proud to be supporting Malone RFC, who have played such a significant role in the rugby community both locally and nationally for over a century.

At this time, Walsin and Malone make a great team as both are aiming high; Malone on their rugby journey and Walsin experiencing unprecedented growth to become one of the largest facade companies in Ireland.

I have always had an interest in the sport, having played for my local club for many years and was delighted to be asked to get involved with Malone. Staff members regularly attend home and away games and there is a real buzz in the company around the club’s recent successes.

So far we have been delighted to play a small part in the club’s ongoing refurbishment programme and will continue to support Malone RFC as it goes forward.

Ian Sinclair, Managing Director, Walsin Ltd.

Proud Sponsors of

Gibson Park, Gibson Park Avenue, Cregagh Road, Belfast. BT6 9GL

Tel: 028 9045 7819

email: malonerfc@gmail.com

web:www.malone-rfc.com

Executive Committee:

Stuart Duncan

Gerry Gibbons

Mark Dowds

Gary Brown

David Heron

Ken Campbell

Jonathan McAllister

Michael Kearney

Raymond Thomas

Secretary:

Raymond Thomas

Rugby Committee:

Chair: Michael Kearney

Vice-Chair: David Heron

Clubhouse and facilities:

Mark Dowds

Grounds:

Gerry Gibbons

Programme and Social Media:

Ken Campbell

Advertising and sponsorship:

Jonathan McAllister

Malone RFC proudly supports:

President: Gerry Gibbons

Senior

Vice President: Ken Campbell

Chairman: Stuart Duncan

All,

It is a great honour to top the season off by welcoming ‘The MARIS Touring Team’ to Gibson Park.

A weekend of festivities await and I hope all players, parents, mentors and supporters enjoy themselves to the full. It was truly great to see The Tornadoes participate in the Awards Night last week and well done Lochlan !

These weekends come with a lot of unseen, unrecognised and unsung work going on behind the scenes.

May I take this opportunity to thank the sponsors, without whose backing , the event could not succeed.

A word also to ‘The Big Man’ up above.

The Tornadoes, especially their mentors, have been praying for an end to this sunny spell. It looks like they’re going to get their way and loadsa muck should be the order of the day for Saturday.

I know the match official is taking it so seriously that he trained by himself on Tuesday night. Well, more of a leisurely stroll on the Prunty, but it all pays Vincie Boy !

The best of luck to all involved ! Enjoy ‘The Haymarket’ on Friday, the build up, the Match, the support, food, the European Cup and the craic.

Up above…..

G.G.

The MARIs are an invitational team of Mixed Ability players and coaches from around the world who play exhibition matches.

The MARI’s were conceived in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic in March 2021. At a time when rugby was at a standstill along with the rest of the world a need for positivity and togetherness had never been greater. The MARI’s hope to continue to meet this need, bringing together Mixed Ability players and coaches from across the world in an act of unity.

MARI’s are part of the International Mixed Ability Sports movement which encourages equal participation in sport by breaking down barriers, promoting inclusivity and promoting health and wellbeing.

Mixed Ability rugby is not a disability sport, but it provides an opportunity for players of different capabilities no matter their circumstance. The focus of games is around participation, enjoyment, recreation, and inclusion with everyone getting game time.

Currently there are over 60 teams playing worldwide. Mixed Ability rugby has been around in Wales for a long time with the first mixed ability team (Swansea Gladiators) who formed in 1991, followed closely by the Llanelli Warriors in 1995.

Last year’s IMART World Cup in Cork was a massive success with over 1000 players involved culminating in a 3rd place for Malone Tornadoes who are going to be the MARI’s opponents in Belfast 20th May 2023 with kick-off at 2pm.

Head Coach for the MARIs for this game is Ashley Mulligan who is a playing facilitator with Malone Tornadoes RFC. Assistant Coach is David Oliver who is Head Coach to Edinburgh Inclusive RFC. The team for Belfast was selected over a number of weeks and the squad’s announcement was officially released through social media at the start of April.

This is an exciting and truly international team consisting of players and officials from eight nations in the promotion of inclusion and Mixed Ability Rugby with a party from Canada making the trip for the weekend tour.

Like all Invitational Teams, this provides an unique opportunity to play alongside players from a range of clubs but the difference in this team is that there are so many inspirational

MALONE RFC, BELFAST 20th May, 2003

The four main aims of the MARI’s

•Celebrate Mixed Ability rugby and raise awareness of the sport for future generations

•Establish relationships between players and clubs from around the world.

•Provide a unique experience to all those who take part to play and visit locations across the world

•Provide opportunities for players and coaches to improve their skills and gain social experiences that they may never have been able to have without Mixed Ability rugby.

stories in how individuals got to where they are now, in being part of this particular team. The action-packed, busy weekend is centred around the game of rugby but more importantly it will be about fun, friendship and inclusion of all matters associated to the sport of rugby. The Mixed Ability Rugby Invitational is the brainchild of Jamie Evans and Gwilym Lewis of the Llanelli Warriors. Both men have been involved in Mixed Ability Rugby for many years, supporting communities to promote clubs across the UK and internationally to build and manage their own Mixed Ability rugby clubs.

While on a Llanelli Warriors rugby

tour in Samoa back in 2017 an idea was hatched (over a beer) to invite Mixed Ability players from all over the world to play in exhibition matches to mark special occasions in the rugby calendar.

In 2021 the idea became a reality when the MARI’s played their first fixture against the Llanelli Warriors in December 2021 at Cardiff Arms Park.

Jamie Evans founder of the MARI’s says, “Mixed Ability Rugby is a fantastic way for people to play sport, be included, respected and be part of a team. The MARI’s gives players something to strive towards to

The overarching goal is to provide an opportunity for players involved in Mixed Ability Rugby to be available for selection to play for the MARI’s and to experience that once in a lifetime game where they become part of a legacy but more importantly make new friendship which is in the proper tradition of rugby.

Jamie continues, “It’s also fantastic to be able to use world-class facilities like Cardiff Arms Park, Murrayfield and the Principality Stadium amongst other venues, so we are really grateful to those who help make this possible, and it just adds to the excitement of it all.”

The MARI’s have grown in success with the Welsh Rugby Union providing the MARI’s with the Principality Stadium in April 2022, to celebrate Mixed Ability rugby in Wales. The MARI’s played against the world’s oldest

Mixed Ability club, the Swansea Gladiators, who were celebrating their 30th anniversary. There are already over 100 different players who have ‘played and become immersed in the MARI’s spirit’ and the friendships and connections are continuing to be cemented and celebrated.

To continue to make this a possibility for others we are grateful for the sponsors who make the fixtures as special for the players as possible. Many of the players are supported in participating in MARI’s games by an accompanying parent/ carer alongside a facilitator form their home club.

We hope that there will be significant interest in the promotion of this game in Belfast with publicity through the a range of platforms across the clubs involved, the home unions, mainstream and social media outlets. There is

Webpage: - https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/mixedabilityrugbyinv

MALONE RFC, BELFAST 20th May, 2003

specially designed training kit with sponsors’ logos prominently displayed and particular MARIs merchandise available to purchase which are bespoke to this particular game.

We are delighted to have the support of Ulster Rugby through Chris Shields and Ally Skelding and the IRFU’s Disability and Inclusion Officer David McKay. Some of the current Ulster

Rugby team will also be lending their support in the lead up to the game.

We hope that your love of sport and the experiences you have had with your own involvement will provide you with an appreciation of how special these types of experiences are and the will to create opportunities for inclusion.

ook.com/MARInvitational

vitational | You Tube: - https://youtu.be/iyI5HOm6IYQ

Fueling Malone RFC and their guests

Order online: www.thepizzaco.co.uk

Tel: 028 9023 3353

MALONE RFC CODE OF CONDUCT

Code for Players - General

•Play for enjoyment and become part of the rugby family.

•Respect the "Game of Rugby" and play within the laws of the Game.

•Accept the referee's decision and let your captain ask any relevant questions.

•Play with control. Do not lose your temper.

•Always do your best and be committed to the game, your team and your club.

•Be a "good sport". Applaud all good play whether by your team or the opposition.

•Respect your opponent. Treat all players as you would like to be treated. Do not "bully" or take advantage of any player.

•Rugby is a team sport so make sure you co-operate with your coach, teammates and members of your club.

•At the end of the match thank your opponents and the referee for the match.

•Always remember that you owe a duty of care to your opponents. Tackle hard but fairly, do not intend to hurt your opponent.

•Winning and losing is part of sport: Win with humility - lose with dignity.

•As part of the team it is important that you attend training regularly, listen to your coach and help your team.

•As a team sport it is important to understand that all members are important to the team!

•Remember you are representing your team, club, family and the Game of Rugby.

Code for Spectators

•Be on your best behaviour and lead by example. Do not use profane language or harass referees, players or coaches.

•Applaud good play by the visiting team as well as your own.

•Show respect for your team's opponents. Without them there would not be a match.

•Condemn the use of violence in all forms at every opportunity.

•Verbal abuse of players or referees cannot be accepted in any shape or form.

•Players or referees are not fair targets for ignorant behaviour.

•Encourage players to play by the Laws of the Game.

•Spectators can contribute to the enjoyment of the event and all involved.

•Be proud of your club and the Game of Rugby

SUPPORTING MALONE RUGBY CLUB

MALONE R.F.C.

David McKay

Kenny Calladine

Johnny Park

Jacob Sullivan

Allister Lee

Chris Halliday

James Cartlidge

Jake Wood

Stephen McKinty

Niall Rainey

Stewart Porter

Jordan Kerr

Andrew Bates

Ross Cockerill

TORNADOES

Lochlann Hughes

Matthew Graham

Gareth Murphy

Chris Shields

Aidan Creamer

Niall Johnston

James Johnston

Josh Halliday

Greg Hall

David Ditty

Tommy Crawford

Brian Rogan

Jack Gardner

#ABLE. INCLUDED. SELECTED

Malone Tornadoes Player of the Year 2022/23

Lochlan Hughes was voted the Malone Tornadoes Player of the Year for 2022/23. He was presented with his award at the Malone’s Players’ Dinner and Awards Night by club president Gerry Gibbons.

Proud to be Malone Mini Rugby main sponsor

Malone RFC is proud to support

The Children’s Cancer Unit Charity depends entirely on public donations and the support of our generous fundraisers.

All year round, our families, friends and supporters organise events and activities - from coffee mornings to gala balls, sponsored skydives to cookbooks, fun runs to 32 marathons in a row - all in aid of the Children’s Cancer Unit.

Donations can also be made online via our website at www.childrenscancerunit.com/support-us

We could not continue to assist the work of the Children’s Cancer Unit without your support. Please get in touch if you would like to help.