By Natalie BennettMonday 8 Aug 2022Inspirational StoriesReading Time: 2 minutes

Modified Rugby Program (MRP) is a world first, specifically designed rugby program, engaging people with Autism and other learning and perceptual disabilities with their local club and their broader community.

This program features person centred design delivery modified to support the player’s needs. It partners Players with a Player Mentor (Local Rugby Club Player) who are specifically trained and champion disability inclusion by support on and off the field. MRP allows the Players to experience success in line with their own development, shows them what they can do and how much they can achieve when rugby is modified to support their needs.

Listen: Conversation with Tony Schutte Chief Operation Officer, Gingercloud Foundation

The MRP brings families and communities together who traditionally would not have the chance to participate in a team sport, at their local club. Embodying the essence of inclusion and diversity MRP provides a space where they can be included, feel safe and secure, be understood, experience success, and belong. The Club and Player Mentors gain skills that nurture a generation of young people, from whom disability is normalised.

MRP started in 2014 with The Gingercloud Foundation & founders Megan and Anthoy Elliot. Parents of a young man with learning and perceptual difficulties, they longed for their son to be able to play a team sport. With a focus on sharing their sons and others greatness, not their limitations the Elliots partnered up with their local Rugby Club Brothers Brisbane, Queensland Rugby Union, their sons allied Supports and Australian Rugby Union to develop what is now MRP.

Listen to conversation with Megan Elliott, Co-Founder & Managing Director Gingercloud in the player above. 

MRP teams play exhibition matches at Suncorp, and they’ve even played in front of the Wallabies.

The MRP community currently has 335 participants, 32 teams in 13 clubs across QLD and the ACT. To find out more visit mymrp.org

Listen: Nicole Patelesio, Brothers Modified Rugby Program (MRP), explains what the program means for the community.