The National Rehabilitation Institute has received donations of supplies to practice rugby in prisons

The British Embassy in Uruguay, in coordination with the National Sports Secretary, delivered on Wednesday 5th of this month sports materials including clothing and equipment for playing rugby in units of the National Institute of Rehabilitation (INR). “The donation of equipment is important to them, it defines them, unites them and gives them an identity,” said Undersecretary of Sports, Pablo Ferrari.

Participated in the activity carried out in Unit No. 4, Santiago Vázquez, Director of Coexistence and Citizens’ Security of the Ministry of the Interior, Santiago Gonzalez; INR President, Luis Mendoza, and UK Ambassador to Uruguay, Faye O’Connor, with members of the Uruguayan rugby team.

Ferry highlighted the British people’s support for this national initiative and considered it to help the project that was implemented in prisons several years ago. He also revealed that the Santiago Vazquez court, which opened in 2015, is run by prisoners. “It is the people who are deprived of their liberty who make this sustainable and what we are doing is helping it to continue,” he emphasized.

Gonzalez noted that the donation made by a British NGO and sponsored by the Embassy is very important to the development of the sport in the INR units. In addition, he announced the opening of an exclusive unit for those who practice it soon.

He added that it is expanding into dependencies such as football, basketball or boxing, and emphasized that it is part of rehabilitation because it provides a different opportunity. Rugby is currently played at INR facilities in Cerro Largo, Colonia Maldonado, Paysando and Soriano.

The committee chair also highlighted the help of the SND and the Uruguayan Rugby Union (URU), whose teachers and players attend these venues to popularize the game.

Meanwhile, O’Connor noted the importance of supporting the initiative to promote values ​​and rehabilitation through sport. He added that the donation of clothing and equipment corresponds to the symbols and selection of British clubs. “We want to share the feeling that another life can be achieved, that they have a future, that there is hope, and that if they have the determination, they can change things for themselves,” he said.