GREAT Britain Wheelchair Rugby, Reading Rugby Club and all Berkshire RFU clubs have teamed up with Get Berkshire Active and Wokingham Borough Council to bring wheelchair rugby to the county.

A series of taster sessions will take place at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre in Rushey Way, Earley this Saturday.

An exciting fusion of ice hockey, handball and rugby, the game was originally founded in Canada in 1977 and is based on speed, chair contact and tactics.

Eight rolling substitutes make up squads of 12, with four players on court per team at any time, with the aim of driving the ball across the opponents' goal line.

Contact between wheelchairs is permitted, as players use their chairs to block and hold opponents.

The emphasis of the sport is on fun, excitement and inclusion, particularly for players with higher levels of impairment.

The taster sessions are open to both youth (12+) and adult players with a physical impairment.

Participants do not need to be a wheelchair user to take part.

Players of any ability are welcome, as are newcomers to the sport.

If sessions are successful, Berkshire clubs hope to develop a local wheelchair rugby team with regular training sessions, which will be a first for the county.

Craig Hunter,  Youth Chairman of Reading RFC, said: "It would be brilliant to have a wheelchair rugby club in Berkshire.

"All the rugby clubs in the county have offered support and we are now looking to attract as many people as possible to come and give this exciting game a go."

Wheelchair rugby is a mixed team sport for both male and female disabled athletes.

Sessions will be free and are be open to anyone interested in learning more about the game, including volunteers.

To register to take part this Saturday email paul.arnold@gbwr.org.uk or berkswr@gmail.com or youthchairman@readingrfc.co.uk