Wales Physical Disability Rugby League (PDRL) international Tyma Hughes is loving being able to play rugby, over 20 years after being told he could never take part in physical sport.
The 41 year old was both with diastematomyelia which is a form of spina bifida and causes paralysis on the left hand side of his body. Spina bifida is when a baby’s spine and spinal cord does not develop properly in the womb, causing a gap in the spine.
Now, Hughes has been able to play not only for a rugby league club, but also for Wales and has competed in a World Cup.
“PDRL is life-changing,” he says. “I always wanted to play rugby and I was told that I should be okay to play rugby when I was young. But when I got to a certain age, I was told that actually I couldn’t play rugby any more because my disability was preventing me from playing it and I had to stop now.
“I had 20-30 years where I couldn’t play rugby and then PDRL came along, so at the age of 40, I was playing again and making up for lost time.
“I started playing Mixed Ability Rugby Union just before the pandemic. I then signed for Salford Red Devils to play PDRL and then won my first cap for Wales soon after that.”
In PDRL, there are various categories depending on a player’s disability. Hughes wears red shorts during a game, meaning that other players aren’t allowed to tackle him.
He adds: “I’m quite limited in my mobility and passing the ball one way is a lot easier than passing it the other way. I can’t be tackled and as PDRL lets you play non-contact, I can contribute to the game wearing red shorts.
“Playing for Wales is great fun. We’ve got an excellent group of players and the one thing we have in common is we’re all disabled. Everyone has been through something, but not the same thing. We can all understand and have empathy for each other. It’s actually an environment where we can talk about disability openly and talk about certain things that we’re not ashamed to talk about, like we may be at other clubs and other environments.”
In Wales, rugby league is available for almost anyone. Players can start at just six-years-old for community clubs and can play Masters Rugby League if they’re over 35. In PDRL, just like in our Wheelchair game, selection is open to all genders, and if a player can stand, Hughes says that they can play PDRL and that can help a person’s mental health if, like him, he was unable to play the sport he loves.
“Player PDRL is amazing for mental health,” he said. “It’s great to exercise and have a dream. When you have a disability that leaves you bed-bound for five days a week, it’s important to have something to look forward to on the two days where you can do something positive. So, to look forward to it and have a team full of players backing you up on the pitch and helping you overcome disability to play rugby, it’s life-changing, it’s great.
“If anyone is thinking about playing PDRL, watch one of our games on YouTube and I guarantee you’ll see someone who moves, or can’t move in the same way you do. Just get involved as rugby is there for you if you want it.”
The Wales PDRL side will be in action again later this year. The fixture will be confirmed soon.
