Bell's role

From: ic Dumfries.co.uk - Dumfries,UK - Nov 26, 2004

ANNAN forward Neil Bell has been selected in a squad to take part in a historic rugby international this weekend.

For the first time, the Scottish Deaf Rugby team will play an international on home soil, against Wales at Braidholm, Glasgow, tomorrow.

The back-row was also part of the first ever Scotland international, also against Wales, in June, that ended 69-0 in favour of the Welsh

Deaf rugby gives people whose hearing is totally or partially impaired the opportunity to play the sport in an environment that is sympathetic to their communication problems.

To qualify to play for the Scottish Deaf Rugby team players must be affiliated to a rugby club, be able to prove their nationality and give evidence by audiogram of a hearing disability to the International Deaf Rugby Organisation.

Scottish Deaf Rugby captain Neil Houston said: "We are really delighted that Wales are travelling up to play this fixture. Their team is full of players who play high level rugby in Wales and England and it will be another tough challenge for us.

"Scottish Deaf Rugby has been working hard to develop the side and have established an exiles group to broaden our player base. We have also recruited a number of BT Premiership players, some of whom are unavailable this weekend due to league commitments, and our squad is really taking shape."

Copyright Trinity Mirror Plc 2004