A local rugby player has said joining a Merseyside-based inclusive sports team has had a huge impact on his life.
Michael Rowlands has been involved with the Liverpool Tritons since they began but has been playing with them for just over three years.
The 41-year-old, who plays as a tight-head prop, explained how during this time he met some of dearest friends, improved his physical and mental health and gained more confidence.
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The civil servant told the ECHO : “It’s not an understatement to say rugby has had a huge impact on my life for the better.
“Some of my closest friends have come into my life because either we met at a fixture or tournament and I would never have met them had I not taken up this sport, it has given me an incredible support network.”
Michael, originally from Bebington, went on to explain that during lockdown last year he felt ‘incredibly isolated’ and was struggling as he had just been diagnosed with autism.
He added: “My friends were always there offering support or just an ear for me to express how I was feeling about it all. It’s still tough at times, but it could have been much more difficult were it not for them.”
The Tritons formed in 2016, and a huge part of the squad’s ethos is to support each other off the pitch as well as on it.
The team, which now has over 40 active players, do everything from obstacle courses, hill walking in Snowdonia and Moel Famau, indoor climbing and clubberfit.
Michael, who now lives in New Brighton, said: “The social aspect is always great, you can take as little or as much as you want from it without feeling obligated to take part in that side of it.
“It has helped a lot in terms of fitness which for me has been a bit of an up and down struggle, but it really helps with my mental health too. It’s allowed me to really build my confidence which I have then carried over into my career and life in general.”
Before joining the Tritons, Michael had a successful run with the Kings Cross Steelers in London for 10 years.
There, he says he experienced some of the best career moments he’s had to date including winning the Alice Hoagland Cup at the Bingham Cup in 2012 and scoring a hat-trick of tries at the Union cup in 2017.
Both teams Michael has played for have been within the International Gay Rugby Union, so he says, thankfully, he can only count the incidents of homophobia within his sport on the one hand.
Despite this, he says homophobia is not at the level you would see in some other sports and said he feels safe wherever he has travelled to compete.
Encouraging others to join, Michael assured that the team understands how intimidating it can be, so they buddy newcomers up with a team player.
He explained: “We will buddy you up with someone so you can ask them questions about anything from the workings of the club to the game itself and so we can gauge your level of knowledge so as to not overwhelm you.
“People can come and join either our men’s union or an all gender touch rugby team every Wednesday at Jericho Lane Sports Hub, Otterspool, between 7pm and 9pm.”
He advised anyone interested, regardless of experience, to send their social media a message for more information.
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