Wales ready to defend World Deaf Rugby titles

Wales men and women are set to defend their titles at the upcoming Deaf Rugby Sevens World Cup in Japan. Both teams must compete with a hearing loss of at least 40 decibels in both ears. The event will take place from October 31st to November 2nd in Tokyo. The Welsh men's team won the 2023 World Deaf Rugby Sevens Cup, defeating Australia 20-5 and securing their second consecutive title in the sevens tournament and third overall in the Deaf Rugby World Cup.

The women's team made their debut in the women's tournament, beating England 32-0 in the final. Wales Deaf Rugby chair Sian-Elin Melbourne emphasized that the players represent not only themselves but also their families, communities, and the generations of deaf rugby players who came before them. Kristy Hopkins, the Wales women's rugby team manager, expressed the pride and honor of representing Wales on an international level and inspiring future deaf children.

The teams acknowledge the pressure of being defending champions, adapting to new silent referees, and the financial challenges of self-funding their trip to Japan.