SALE SHARKS' World Cup winning England wing Ben Cohen has backed a video project showing players signing rugby buzz words to help coaches communicate with deaf young players.

Cohen, who won the 2003 RWC and is clinically deaf, said: "Rugby is one of those sports where being deaf need not be a barrier to playing - whether at grass roots or international level. It's a game that relies on instinct as well as skill, and while there will always be challenges for deaf or hearing impaired players, the opportunities are comparable as for any other player."

"Anything that helps coaches communicate with deaf players, particularly young players who are new to the game, is going to help promote the sport among the deaf community, and integrate these players into mainstream clubs. If coaches can converse with players using signing, even on a basic level, it is going to increase their enjoyment of the game."

The clips - created in partnership with England Deaf Rugby Union (EDRU) and the Rugby Football Union - are part of a groundbreaking programme, Me2, run by the National Deaf Children's Society (NDCS) to make sport clubs fully inclusive for young deaf people. The clips feature Harlequins rugby union stars and the England Deaf Rugby squad.

Available free at www.ndcs.org.ukrfu, the clips aim to encourage rugby clubs and leagues to address the needs of deaf children and make the game more accessible for them. The clips show useful words and phrases such as tackle, attack, pass - signed in a clear and accessible way - and are essential in communicating with deaf young players during matches or training sessions.

Hayley Jarvis, NDCS Sports and Leisure Activities Manager, says: "In the past there has been a real lack of rugby coaching sessions available for deaf children and young people. Due to the commitment from RFU and EDRU, more deaf young players can now take part in the game and we are currently working with these organisations to design a deaf rugby coaching guide which will be the first of its kind.

"Access to sport is extremely important for deaf children as many are isolated from activities that hearing children take for granted. We are therefore calling all rugby clubs to have a go at learning the signs and join our programme to break down communication barriers faced by deaf children."

Nic Scott, RFU Equity, Inclusion and Safeguarding Manager, commented: "At the RFU we are continually striving to ensure that the game is as inclusive as possible, and extend the enjoyment and values of the sport to as many as possible. By producing video footage that will support our coaches in working with deaf children and young people, we believe we will accelerate their already increasing integration into mainstream clubs."

Lyndon James, Secretary of England Deaf Rugby Union, stated: "This is a tremendous step forward towards our ambition to make rugby union available to all deaf and hard of hearing people. We are looking forward to further work with the NDCS and the RFU to further improve accessibility to the sport."

Me2 initiative offers clubs a free training course on how to work with deaf children and rugby clubs wanting to find out more about the programme should email me2@ndcs.org,uk