Steve Hodge Picked For England Deaf Squad
Sarries very own Steve Hodge has been named in the England Deaf squad to face the All Blacks at Blackheath in the first of a three-Test series.
Sarries centre Steve Hodge is savouring the chance of playing against New Zealand on Saturday 4th November.
Hodge has been named in the England Deaf squad to face the All Blacks at Blackheath in the first of a three-Test series.
In an interview with Plymouth's Sports Gazette Hodge has said:
“For any rugby player at any international level the All Blacks are the team to face, it does not really get much bigger in the rugby world than playing against New Zealand.”
“We have seen some video footage of certain players, which has come through the World Deaf channels, but we don’t really know much about them. They probably don’t know much about us also.
“In deaf rugby, it is quite hard to find information on other teams.”
“Being picked for the first Test should put everyone who has been selected in good stead for the other two fixtures, but because they are so close together there could be injuries and things like that.”
“Once I have finished the three Tests against New Zealand I have managed to get selected to go out and play in the Dubai 10s, that’s at the end of November and I have a few things overseas after Christmas as well.”
The second game will be on Wednesday 8th November at Harlow with the final match at Barking the following Saturday (11th November).
After playing against New Zealand, Hodge will then head to the Dubai International Veterans’ 10s.
To top it off, Hodge also has the World Deaf Sevens to look forward to in April. He has already been named in the England Deaf squad for that event in Australia.
Likely/Possible Deaf Men’s 7’s Teams
Australia
Australian Barbarians
Australia A
England
Wales
Welsh Barbarians
Japan
Fiji
New Zealand
New Zealand Maori
Argentina
South Africa
Kenya
World Barbarians
Australian Indigenous
Likely/Possible Deaf Women’s 7’s Teams
Australia
Australian Barbarians
England
Fiji
New Zealand
World Barbarians
Australian Indigenous
(Taken from worlddeafrugby7s.com)
The England players have to fund the trip themselves, so Hodge is trying to find sponsorship to be able to compete in Australia.
Players do not need to be profoundly deaf. Anyone who has an average hearing loss of 25dB bilateral, which translates to a mild level of deafness in both ears or moderate level in one ear, is eligible.
If anyone can help him with sponsorship to compete at the World Deaf Sevens, they should email steve.hodge@hotmail.co.uk.
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