Deaf Rugby Star Rhys Owens Aims to Inspire Young Athletes Ahead of World Cup
An 18-year-old deaf rugby player from Wrexham is determined to become a role model for deaf children and prove that athletes with hearing impairments can achieve anything their peers can. Rhys Owens, who has worn hearing aids since age seven, recently earned a spot on the Wales deaf rugby team and is now fundraising to compete in the Deaf Rugby World Cup in Tokyo later this year.
Overcoming Challenges Through Rugby
Rhys developed glue ear at seven years old, a condition where fluid fills the middle ear canal, causing temporary hearing loss. Despite undergoing surgery to insert grommets—tiny tubes placed in the eardrum to equalise air pressure—his hearing did not improve, leading him to rely on hearing aids. Growing up in mainstream education without learning sign language, he faced difficulties in noisy classrooms but found his calling in rugby.
"I would like to hope I am a role model for deaf children," Rhys told PA Real Life. "I hope any young athletes out there who are deaf do try and research whether their sports have deaf national teams because it has done me nothing but good since signing up."
Rugby Journey and Deaf Team Inclusion
Rhys began playing for Wrexham Rugby Club at eight years old, drawn to the sport's inclusivity and his family's passion for rugby. After a coach mentioned the Wales deaf rugby team in October 2024, he registered and impressed coaches, securing a place as a second-row player in November 2025. Deaf rugby follows standard World Rugby Union rules with adaptations like visual signals from referees and sign-language interpreters.
Key aspects of deaf rugby include:
- Visual cues and flag-carrying referees for communication
- British Sign Language interpreters on the sidelines
- A minimum average hearing loss of 50dB across both ears for international competition
Rhys noted that while the quality of play is similar to mainstream rugby, the deaf team offers a more understanding environment with clear, loud communication. "Having only played in one game for the deaf team, it is hard to compare, however, from that one game, the atmosphere was very lively and the spectators made a lot of noise," he said.
Fundraising for the World Cup Dream
The Deaf Rugby World Cup will be held in Tokyo, Japan, in October and November 2026. Rhys, a criminal justice student at Liverpool John Moores University, has set up a GoFundMe page with a £2,500 goal to cover travel costs. "It would mean the world to me if I could play for Wales in Japan," he said. "As a young lad I would dream of playing for Wales and now that I have this opportunity I would be over the moon and would not let anyone down."
His journey has not been without setbacks, including two operations for a perforated eardrum in 2019 that sidelined him until 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic. He rejoined Wrexham Rugby Club in 2022 at age 15, progressing from the front row to the second row in the senior team.
Inspiring Message to Deaf Youth
Rhys emphasises that rugby builds confidence and life skills, regardless of hearing aids. "We are capable of doing anything other athletes can do," he asserted, encouraging deaf children to pursue sports. The Wales Deaf Rugby Union, run by volunteers, supports players with training, finances, physiotherapy, and coaching, fostering a community where athletes like Rhys can thrive.
With his family's pride and support, Rhys continues training hard for the World Cup, hoping to inspire a new generation of deaf athletes to embrace their potential on and off the field.
