Oxfordshire SEND Rugby Festival Enters Third Year with Italian Visitors and New Charity Status

_{Charity welcomes the International team. (Image: MERKUR Casino)}

An inclusive tag rugby festival for young people with special educational needs and disabilities returns to Wallingford on 25 April, now operating as a registered charity and welcoming an international team for the first time.

KatieFest, which brings together rugby clubs from across Oxfordshire and beyond, will be held at Wallingford Rugby Football Club for its third consecutive year. A £1,431.80 donation from gaming company MERKUR Casino UK which operates land-based and online casinos, will fund 250 medals, trophies, and lunch for participants on the day.

The event's expansion into charity status and its first international participation mark a significant step for a festival that began as a local commemoration and has grown into one of the county's more visible, inclusive sport occasions.

From Memorial to Movement

KatieFest was established in memory of Katie Peel, a founding player of the Wallingford Wolves, and was designed to give young people with SEND the chance to build confidence, develop skills, and connect with others in a structured sporting environment.

Darren Rea, a KatieFest trustee and Oxfordshire RFU co-chair of inclusion, diversity, and equality, said the event had become a fixture for many families. 

'Community and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do, and the event provides an opportunity for young people of all abilities to come together through sport.'

Since it became a registered charity last summer, the organisation has continued to expand its work. This year's edition introduces an additional dimension with the arrival of a visiting team from Italy. 'This year is especially exciting as we welcome an international team from Italy,' Rea said, 'further strengthening the sense of connection and shared experience that KatieFest represents.'

MERKUR's Third Year of Support

The donation comes through MERKUR's community programme, which is funded by the company and voluntary customer contributions across its UK venues. Since its launch, the programme has donated £296,036.20 to more than 150 community groups and charities across the country.

Mark Schertle, chief operations officer at MERKUR, said the festival aligned with the company's wider approach to community investment. 

'Creating inclusive spaces where young people can build confidence and feel supported is incredibly important, and we are proud to support KatieFest for another year.'

Inclusive sport programmes for young people with SEND have been shown to support skills development and longer-term social outcomes. KatieFest is open to teams across Oxfordshire and the wider region.