Under the shadow of Twickenham’s towering stands, a different kind of sporting story is unfolding. At London Scottish Rugby’s grounds, people living with Parkinson’s are lacing up their trainers, adjusting their helmets and stepping onto the pitch for an event that challenges long‑held assumptions about the disease – and about who gets to call themselves an athlete.
The Sports Parkinson’s Try‑Athlon is not a race against the clock, but a rally against limitation.Bringing together rugby, cycling and walking or running, the day is designed to showcase what is absolutely possible when tailored exercise, expert support and a committed community converge.Hosted by London Scottish,one of the capital’s oldest and most storied rugby clubs,the event unites medical professionals,sports coaches,volunteers,families and participants with Parkinson’s in an ambitious bid to reframe exercise as frontline therapy,not a footnote.As the science around Parkinson’s increasingly highlights the benefits of sustained physical activity in managing symptoms and improving quality of life, the Try‑Athlon offers a live demonstration: Parkinson’s on the pitch, out of the clinic, and squarely in the spotlight.
Inside the Sports Parkinson’s Try-Athlon at London Scottish Rugby A New Model for Inclusive Sport
On a bright afternoon at the Richmond Athletic Ground, the pitch transformed from a customary rugby arena into a living laboratory for adaptive sport. Instead of a single, high-intensity contest, participants rotated through carefully curated activity zones designed around the realities of life with Parkinson’s.Under the watchful eye of specialist coaches and neurologically informed trainers, players explored a mix of rugby-inspired drills, balance challenges and low-impact cardio sessions that emphasised rhythm, reaction and coordination over speed or strength. The result was a format that allowed individuals at different stages of Parkinson’s to take part side by side, each working at their own pace yet sharing the same competitive buzz and team spirit.
Rather than dividing people by ability, the event collapsed traditional barriers: carers joined in the circuits, former athletes regained a sense of locker-room camaraderie and first-timers discovered that contact with the game could be reimagined without risk or intimidation. The set-up encouraged micro-goals-an extra pass, a slightly longer jog, a steadier turn-celebrated with the same gusto as a winning try. Around the pitch, pop-up stations showcased practical tools for living actively with Parkinson’s, from tailored warm-up routines to cognitive drills woven into ball-handling exercises. This multi-layered design highlighted a shift in sports programming, where inclusion is not an add-on but the organising principle.
- Low-impact rugby drills focused on footwork, passing accuracy and spatial awareness.
- Balance and coordination zones used cones, ladders and mini-hurdles adapted for stability.
- Guided warm-ups and cool-downs were led by clinicians and specialist physios.
- Carer-participant activities encouraged shared movement and mutual support.
| Activity Zone | Core Focus | Adaptation |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Grid | Hand-eye coordination | Lighter balls, extra time |
| Stride Lane | Gait and posture | Marked steps, rest points |
| Agility Corner | Balance and turning | Support rails, spotters |
| Team Relay | Endurance and morale | Shorter distances, mixed teams |
From Diagnosis to Start Line How Participation is Transforming Lives with Parkinson’s
For many participants, receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis once felt like a finish line, a point at which careers, hobbies and social lives might begin to narrow. On the pitch at London Scottish Rugby, that narrative is being rewritten in real time. People who once hesitated to leave the house are now pinning on race bibs, meeting teammates and discovering that movement is still possible-sometimes in new and unexpected ways. The Try-Athlon format, with its inclusive mix of walking, cycling and non-contact rugby, allows individuals to choose their own pace while still sharing in a collective surge of purpose and solidarity.
This shift plays out in small but powerful moments that ripple through daily life long after the final whistle.Confidence grows with each training session completed, each pass caught, each lap finished; friendships form on the sidelines and continue in community WhatsApp groups and local support meetups. Families and carers also become active stakeholders, seeing firsthand how structured participation can sharpen coordination, boost mood and build resilience. On the day, the event ground feels like a living case study in what’s possible when sport, medical insight and community spirit intersect.
- Reframed identity: from “patient” to “participant”
- Shared experience: peers who understand symptoms and setbacks
- Visible progress: small physical gains tracked over time
- Emotional lift: reduced isolation, renewed sense of purpose
| Impact Area | What Participants Report |
|---|---|
| Mobility | Improved balance and stride confidence |
| Mood | Less anxiety, more day-to-day optimism |
| Community | New friendships and support networks |
| Motivation | Clear goals to keep exercising regularly |
Designing a Parkinson’s Friendly Try-Athlon Practical Adaptations Coaches and Clubs Can Implement
Coaches and clubs can make the Try-Athlon genuinely inclusive by rethinking familiar formats rather than dialing down ambition. That starts with flexible rules and choice-based stations: participants might swap sprints for power walking, or contact drills for passing grids, without losing their competitive edge.Clear visual cues on cones, bibs and signage help those with freezing or spatial challenges, while extra time windows between activities reduce pressure and fatigue. Thoughtful scheduling that builds in seated recovery breaks,warm-up “primers” for balance,and cool-down mobility sessions ensures that intensity is adapted,not abandoned.
On the ground, small practical tweaks transform confidence and safety. Coaches should brief volunteers on cueing strategies (short, rhythmic instructions), visible demonstrations and calm, one-to-one support. Clubs can prepare:
- Adaptive kit: lighter balls, larger grips, non-slip mats
- Environment tweaks: decluttered touchlines, good lighting, minimal background noise where possible
- Clear communication: printed station maps, colour-coded roles, visible rest areas
- Buddy systems: pairing each participant with a trained helper or family member
| Challenge | Simple Adaptation |
|---|---|
| Freezing when starting | Use rhythmic clapping or counting to launch movement |
| Balance on turns | Mark wider arcs and allow walking turns |
| Grip and ball control | Use larger, softer balls and two-handed catches |
| Fatigue mid-session | Introduce seated skill stations and optional laps |
Building Sustainable Support Networks Lessons for Community Clubs Local Authorities and Health Partners
The Try-Athlon has shown that lasting impact comes when local clubs, public services and health teams move beyond one-off events to shared obligation. Rugby volunteers, Parkinson’s specialists and council staff learned to coordinate transport, medication breaks and quieter zones, creating a blueprint for inclusive sport that can be replicated elsewhere.By linking club calendars with clinic schedules and day-center timetables, participants could attend regularly, not just for a single showcase day.This kind of planning turns a headline event into an ongoing pathway back to confidence, social contact and movement.
Crucially, the partnerships forged around the pitch exposed where support systems are fragile and where they can be quickly strengthened. Clubs discovered they could tap into existing community health networks, while local authorities recognised that sport offers low-cost, high-value social prescribing opportunities. Health partners, in turn, gained a venue and a ready-made social setting that medical environments often lack. Practical measures emerging from the event included:
- Shared contact hubs so families, carers and players know who to call for transport, referrals or club access.
- Joint training sessions where coaches learn about Parkinson’s, and clinicians see the benefits of game-based exercise.
- Flexible membership models reducing fees and allowing carers to participate or observe.
- Co-branded communications that normalise participation in sport as part of Parkinson’s management.
| Partner | Key Role | Quick Win |
|---|---|---|
| Community Club | Host safe, welcoming sessions | Appoint a Parkinson’s liaison coach |
| Local Authority | Coordinate access and funding | Subsidise travel to weekly activities |
| Health Partner | Provide clinical guidance | Embed referrals into clinic pathways |
In Summary
As the last participants crossed the finish line at the Richmond Athletic Ground, it was clear the Sports Parkinson’s Try-Athlon had achieved far more than a set of times and distances. For London Scottish Rugby, hosting the event underscored the club’s growing role as a community hub, where elite sport, grassroots participation and health advocacy intersect. For the athletes living with Parkinson’s, it offered proof that diagnosis need not mark the end of an active life, but the start of adapting to a new one.
With plans already underway for future editions, organisers and supporters alike will now look to build on the momentum generated on and off the pitch. If the ambition is to change the narrative around Parkinson’s-from limitation to possibility-then this year’s Try-Athlon at London Scottish has shown how powerful that shift can be when the rugby community and the Parkinson’s community move forward together.
