Sport England’s Active Lives Adult Survey showed a significant disparity between different socio-economic groups and their engagement in sport and physical activity. People in lower socio-economic groups, the BAME population and LGBTQ+ members were shown to be the least likely to be active, at 54%. Nearly a third of England’s adult population - around 12 million people - are in lower socio-economic groups.

Maidstone’s First XV backs coach and his team were looking for a way to keep players engaged and decided to create a touch rugby tournament which, with increasing financial constraints and redundancies, would be very accessible as well as lots of fun. Dads and lads joined in, playing, refereeing and lending a hand, and new people turned up, while all the official advice and regulations were adhered to.

Half way through the eight weeks of planned events, lockdown two arrived but the success of the first part of the tournament has made Jason and his coaches determined to carry on in the New Year and to expand and grow the playing group.

Said Jason: “With postponement of playing and all the complications of Covid, touch rugby was a realistic way to go and we had some 50 people involved. Costs are minimal and touch rugby can involve different ages, both genders and people from all backgrounds, which we want to use in the hope of becoming a more inclusive club.”

Jason’s partner, Becky Thomson is sponsorship officer at the club, as well as President and Chair of the Board of Trustees at Canterbury Christchurch Students Union. She said: “It was great to see some new people coming along to the club for this tournament.

“Inclusion is something which society needs to focus on and showcasing our sport in times like these is something we need to do. We need to let the community know that, after everything involved in this pandemic, grassroots sport is a great way to keep mentally and physically well. Potential commercial partners are also focusing more and more on inclusivity as part of their corporate responsibility.”