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← Malone Tornadoes Mixed Ability Rugby Club

2025-07-31-annual-report

Malone Tornadoes Mixed Ability Rugby Club

1[st] August 2024 to 31[st] July 2025

The Trustees’ Annual Report

  1. Throughout the period 1[st] August 2024 to 31[st] July 2025 the trustees of the charity have remained the same. There are five trustees, namely:

Sam McBurney; Stewart Porter; Philip Rainey; Patrick Mallon; Aidan Creamer.

  1. The governance of the charity is determined by monthly meetings held online typically on the first Tuesday of each month. The meetings are attended by the Management Committee which comprises sixteen members and includes the five trustees. Typically ten or so members would be present. The meetings always include a discussion about all monies received and all monies spent. We discuss arranging fixtures with other Clubs to spread knowledge of what mixed ability rugby is about. We discuss sponsoring players and carers to travel to play for the MARI (Mixed Ability Rugby International) team. We discuss fund-raising initiatives for the 2025 World Cup and travel arrangements. We discuss structural changes including introducing a Code of conduct.

  2. The Club was involved in fund-raising to assist players and their carers attend the International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament in Pamplona Spain in June 2025. This ‘World Cup’ for mixed ability rugby was the second such tournament in which the Club has participated. In June 2022 the Club came third out of thirty-six teams in a world cup in Cork. Opponents ranged from as far afield as Argentina and Canada in that tournament and from as far as Chile and New Zealand in Pamplona 2025.

  3. I have had the opportunity to read and approve the annual financial report for the charity prepared by Helena Carty ACMA. I can confirm that all of the monies spent have been to further the aims and goals of the charity.

History of the Club and a review of the 2024/25 season

  1. Malone Tornadoes, began in 2018, brought about by a desire from players, coaches and families at Newforge Taggers, to play contact rugby. The Tornadoes

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began training in earnest in 2018 and were ably supported each week by Ulster players lending their support and joining in alongside us. Exhibition matches followed, as at that time, Tornadoes were the first and only Mixed Ability Team in Ulster.

  1. The team comprises roughly an equal proportion of players with disability and able bodied players (called ‘facilitators’). At present all players are male although we have no rule prohibiting female players. The age range is from 18 (minimum age) to 64. We have four qualified coaches. Training occurs every Monday evening during the September to June season between 7pm and 8.30pm and typically about thirty-five to forty players attend. There are several players with disability who never miss training and it is evidently an important part of their weekly routine. The range of disabilities is wide and varied: several players have some degree of cognitive impairment, some players have only physical disability and some have both. The playing of contact rugby requires a careful understanding of the particular strengths and needs of each player.

  2. At the outset games with Sundays Well Rebels, a Cork team and first mixed ability team in Ireland, were encouraging and then the Tornadoes were asked to help promote the game at Banbridge. It formed its own mixed ability team which has proved to be a great benefit to the Tornadoes. As aforesaid the Tornadoes went to the IMART World Cup in Cork 2022 with massive support, great numbers and were delighted to achieve 3rd place overall. The overall experience was captured in the bonding of team, the quality of rugby played and connections made with other teams. One of our players was picked from 1100 players to be player of the tournament.

8. Team Overview

The Mixed Ability Rugby team is comprised of players with a broad range of physical and intellectual abilities, as well as varying levels of rugby experience. The ethos of the team centres on participation, mutual respect, and enjoyment of the game, rather than competition alone. Coaches, support staff, and volunteers play a pivotal role in fostering a supportive environment for all members.

9. Season Highlights

Increased Participation: The team welcomed 20 new players over the course of the season, growing the squad size and enhancing the diversity of players. Currently there are 60 players available to the team over the course of the season.

  1. A Kit Launch was held in May 2025 at The Haymarket Bar Belfast with over 150 guests including all of our sponsors and benefactors. The event was hosted by Cool FM DJ Pete Snodden and attended by Mark Simpson of the BBC.

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  1. The team was the sole qualifying entrant from Ulster at the IMART (International Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament) 2025 or “World Cup”. We reached the semi-finals of the ‘Silver’ competition for those teams qualifying in second place from their group. We took a party of 65 to Spain. There were 32 teams from across the world staying in Pamplona for the week-long tournament. The Tornadoes played 5 matches in 36 degrees heat at times and with ground conditions that were challenging. As a tour this was a monumental logistical challenge to get a party of 65 people, many with a disability, safely transported to Spain and back; accommodated; fed and hydrated for 7 days, whilst also playing contact, competitive rugby. Happily the team proved to be robust and whilst we did not win the players were great ambassadors for Northern Ireland. We also reconnected with friends from Madrid, the Alcobendas RFC, further cementing this close partnership.

  2. The team also had a mini-tour to Edinburgh to play EIRT with a party of 50 and this was subsidised by £50 pp which included a ticket to the Ulster V Edinburgh game and a bespoke tour shirt.

  3. Off-field merchandise has been thoughtfully created with the needs of the players and their supporters in mind to enhance affinity to the team and mission of the club.

  4. The team was represented at Stormont at the inception of the Ulster Rugby Foundation. Jacob Sullivan, Captain of the Tornadoes, was chosen by Ulster Rugby to be one of its figureheads at the launch of Ulster Rugby Foundation. This event was attended by the First and Deputy First Ministers along with senior officials in Ulster Rugby and so was a notable promotion of Mixed Ability Rugby.

  5. There is much education involved with the promotion of our sport. Before the trip to Pamplona we conducted a formal ‘ Hydration Presentation and Support’ when we availed of the expertise of one of our player’s parents who is an experienced Nutritionist. An A to Z support leaflet was created for the tour. The hydration awareness course turned out to be a crucial help when we encountered heatwave conditions in the North of Spain.

16. Fixtures:

The team has also participated in multiple friendly matches and regional tournaments as well as the IMART World Cup, Pamplona, Spain, June 2025 This has allowed us to spread the Mixed Ability message demonstrating both skill development and sportsmanship. Our completed fixtures were: October 2024 v Ards(A)

November v Civil Service(A)

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December v Malone Select January 2025 v Banbridge(H) February v Ballyclare(A) February v Azlans(A) March v Arklow March v Banbridge Festival(A) April v Holywood(A) April v EIRT May v Stroud June – Pamplona(A)

  1. Ulster Rugby continue to engage with us and our Patron is the current Ulster Second Row, Harry Sheridan. He, his father and brother were an integral part of our trip to Pamplona and Harry rarely misses our training sessions and even turns out as an eager water-boy at matches. The 4 G pitch at Ravenhill was made available to Tornadoes to train on just before IMART. On this occasion the Team was supported by Ulster and Ireland players who trained with us.

  2. Club-wide events have been attended by a large proportion of the Team and whilst remaining a stand-alone charitable entity we are able to function as an integral part of Malone RFC.

  3. Banners have been created to promote team recognition and for the promotion of sponsorship of our Team.

  4. We have participated in an invitational Mixed Ability Rugby Invitational side (the MARIs) which is contributed to by players being selected from mixed ability teams world-wide. The Tornadoes continue to provide players – with 3 being selected in this period, one as Assistant Coach. The Tornadoes have assisted in funding to help cover with travel and accommodation expenses. We have representation on MARIs Management with A Mulligan acting as a Tour Manager and Lisa Parry as Tour Physio.

21. Club Management

As the club has grown a sub-committee was convened within the Management Group to devise a Code of Conduct to suit the needs of the club, safeguard the vulnerable and promote awareness of the team’s expectations when representing the club both on and off the pitch.

  1. Further a sub-committee devised a suitable Touring Policy to help structure the undertaking of the World Cup tour and identify and stress the needs to be prioritised. This included the implementation of the role of ‘Buddy’ for safety, support and friendship.

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  1. Regular monthly Committee meetings and Sub Committee meetings in preparation for IMART were convened to oversee organisation, fund-raising and the weekly running of the Tornadoes.

  2. We have established an appropriate Safeguarding Team which is in place with appropriate courses completed by its members. Care and Welfare support is provide on a weekly basis with a broad range of issues being dealt with across the Tornadoes’ club.

  3. Coaching courses have been updated by various members.

  4. We have representatives on various committees in Mixed Ability Rugby (‘MAR’) across Irish Rugby to help steer and develop the game. The IRFU Disability Officer David McKay is a member and coach of Tornadoes. As a result the team is ably guided guided by him and our ideas contribute to the development of MAR within Irish Rugby. Growth of the sport is reflected by inclusion of an article about our endeavours in the international programme sold at the Aviva Stadium.

  5. We have arranged for a physiotherapist and a trainee physiotherapist to be signed up to support the team and they travelled with us to Pamplona.

  6. We pursue competing quotes to ensure best prices and show due diligence – in respect of: travel; coach transfers, and; kit expenditure.

29. Community Engagement:

  1. We try to grow the Club and engage with the wider community through outreach initiatives including delivering Christmas hampers with a local charity serving the local community.

  2. Ulster Rugby continue to circulate social media articles broadcasting the Tornadoes’ story to tens of thousands of views. We engaged with the production of a Power NI film – promoting MAR on a national level and showing what Tornadoes can do.

  3. The Belfast Telegraph published a detailed article by Michael Sadlier telling the Tornadoes’ story.

  4. We maintain a social and mainstream media high-profile approach to increasing awareness of Mixed Ability Rugby and so encourage greater inclusion. As part of this the Ulster Supporters’ Group has linked up with Tornadoes.

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  1. Much valuable time has been spent by Gareth Murphy, Stewart Porter and Ashley Mulligan in particular finding and then engaging with sponsors – Ardmore; Haymarket painting/building works; Stena; Halifax attended matches and events.

  2. Separately, Richard Shaw led a group of Management to apply for specific grants which proved successful in October 2025 (our the next financial year) with an award of a grant from the world-famous Barbarians RFC.

  3. We commenced the new season in 2025 with a Beach Rugby BBQ which included a Beach Litter Pick at Helen’s Bay.

Player and Coach Feedback

  1. Feedback from players and their families has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the inclusive nature of the team and the supportive atmosphere. Coaches report that the group’s spirit and determination are standout qualities, though they also note the need for continued upskilling, particularly around adapting drills and translating them into match play for varying abilities.

Conclusion

  1. The Tornadoes Mixed Ability Rugby team has enjoyed a successful and impactful season, making strides both on and off the field. Continued focus on inclusivity, skill development, and community engagement will ensure the ongoing growth and success of the team. With thoughtful planning and support, the team can further its mission of making rugby accessible and enjoyable for all.

Philip Rainey Chairman of the Trustees April 2026

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