Bradford & Bingley Bumbles, England’s first mixed ability rugby union team, have had their second international match against Llanelli Warriors confirmed, and preparations for the Welshman’s weekend visit to Wagon Lane are now going ahead in earnest.

The Bumbles were edged out 22-17 when they visited Parc Y Scarlets a year ago and the Yorkshiremen are keen to avenge that defeat when they meet again on February 25 prior to the Wales v England RBS Six Nations Championship game.

Preparations for the rematch have an extra dimension in Yorkshire as a group of Bumbles players have been putting themselves through a special coaching regime run by West Yorkshire RFU development officer Hamish Pratt.

The object of the seven-hour course is to give students a deeper understanding of rugby.

The course is part of a Foundation in Rugby project which dovetails into a Workers’ Education Association (WEA) Inclusion in Rugby programme.

Course organiser Pratt and his students all speak enthusiastically about the work they have been getting through at Roberts Park in Saltaire village.

“We’ve had several new faces involved and it has been a great learning curve for myself and the RFU,” says Pratt.

“We took about seven hours to complete the course but the level of understanding of some of the candidates was exceptional and exceeded my experiences of new coaches.”

The WEA course is supported by Bradford District Care Trust, who provided classroom facilities at the nearby New Mill Building.

Students all have learning disabilities and either play for the Bumbles or have a keen interest in rugby.

The Saltaire scheme has given the students an additional qualification (IRB Foundation in Rugby) on their Inclusion in Rugby Course, which was recently short-listed for a Times Educational Supplement Further Education Award in the Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community category.

Mark Goodwin, WEA Specialist Tutor and Bumbles’ manager and player, said: “Bumbles players with disabilities have already gone way beyond everyone’s expectations – and let’s not forget the support every week from able-bodied volunteer/facilitators who encourage other players and share their rugby skills to make the team the force it has become.

“The adrenaline is already flowing in anticipation of the Warriors visit.”

While personal rugby development is important to all the students, the chance to put their improving skills to the test once again against their Welsh visitors in February is another motivator.

The first meeting was a rousing tussle that was only decided with the match-winning try three minutes from time.

The return promises to be another epic.