Savills Ireland has announced its sponsorship of the IMART Mixed Ability Rugby World Cup Tournament to be held at Musgrave Park in Cork between the 5 – 10th of June 2022.
Speaking of the partnership, Peter O’Meara of Savills said,
“We are absolutely delighted to be given the opportunity to be a part of such a momentous event, not just for Cork, but for the country. From our discussions with the IMART team we know how hard they have fought to bring this event to Cork and what passion they have displayed to bring this to fruition.
Mixed ability rugby is exactly the type of initiative the whole country needs to champion – it’s built on an ethos of diversity and inclusion – something which businesses and people alike should foster in their every day lives as much as possible. We are behind these teams 100% and we are looking forward to seeing what’s in store in the weeks ahead”.
Liam Maher of IMART commented,
“Savills has a long history in Cork and are a household name throughout the county, so their endorsement means a great deal to us. Having the support of businesses like will really help us to deliver the very best event we possibly can”.
This will be the 3rd edition of the worldwide Mixed Ability rugby showcase promoted by International Mixed Ability Sports (IMAS), and supported by the IRFU.
In the region of 1100 players both with and without disabilities, from 14 countries such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Argentina and New Zealand will come together to play rugby under same World Rugby laws as the XV a side game with only minor adaptations such as uncontested scrums.
This year’s event is made extra special by the fact that it will host the first ever KPMG sponsored Women’s Mixed Ability Rugby tournament in Cork.
The Mixed Ability Model – championed by IMAS – encourages social inclusion by removing barriers to participation for people who feel unable to join mainstream grassroots clubs or groups due to physical or learning disabilities, mental health issues, size, shape, age, prolonged inactivity, or a perception of ‘not being good enough’. It is hoped that the IMART Tournament in Cork next year will enhance interest, participation and interaction of people of all abilities in the sport across Ireland and beyond, and help to build new connections between grassroots clubs, educational institutions, communities and local authorities.