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Deafness no barrier to Mitchell's rugby dreams

1 August 2014

MILESTONE: Morgan Mitchell made his Stags National Provincial Championship debut on Saturday against Manawatu in Palmerston North.

morgan mitchell

It is almost silence for Morgan Mitchell when he takes to the rugby field.

He hopes his lip reading skills can get him through a game but the reality is it is tough. Morgan Mitchell is deaf.

It is a disability which could hold people back, but the 21-year-old Southlander wants to highlight to everyone that being deaf should not put a line through your dreams.

He's doing a good job in that quest.

This week Mitchell was included in the Southland Stags national provincial championship squad for the first time. Tomorrow the young prop will make his debut against Mid Canterbury in Oamaru in a preseason game.

For Mitchell it is a special time.

He admits to being disillusioned at times, thinking his deafness had held him back with his rugby.

Now though, he says there is a different mindset as he ponders his hearing disability.

''To be honest I've now got self belief. I can go tell people nothing is impossible, you've just got to have self-belief,'' he said.

''I was in a bit of a negative mood because I always thought my deafness held me back from making teams. Now I can tell people it can happen.''

It has not been an easy task for the former Gore High School pupil to make his mark on the field - given what obstacles he has had in front of him which other budding young players do not.

''In a game I try lip read, but they have basically got to be front on. I can hear the odd whistle, but I just can't hear if anybody is behind me to be honest.''

Away from rugby Mitchell is helped by a hearing aid, but that comes off during game.

He was hopeful help was on its way to ensure he can one day play with his hearing aid in.

''I've learned to lip read since I was young, so that has helped me out a lot. But now Rugby Southland is trying to sort me out a wee cap, hopefully I will be able to wear my hearing aid. That would make a big difference."

- The Southland Times

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NZ Deaf Rugby Football Union
  • Inside NZDRU
  • Games & Results
  • Members
  • Documents
  • News & Media
    • → The Canberra Times
    • → England Tour Test Series - November 2017
    • → 25th National Deaf Rugby Championship in Christchurch 2018
    • → Deaf Blacks VS Argentina Deaf 2018
    • → England Deaf Rugby Tour 2017
    • → 24th National Deaf Rugby Championships 2017 Results
    • → 24th National Deaf Rugby Championship in Porirua 2017
    • → Deaf Blacks victorious in Argentina
    • → Deaf Blacks Rugby Team win first test in Argentina
    • → Argentina and New Zealand Welcome Ceremony
    • → NZ Deaf Blacks Team set for first international tournament against Argentina
    • → Our Official Deaf Blacks Team to go to Argentina 2016
    • → NZDRFU Special 25th Jubilee Dinner 2016
    • → NZ National Deaf Rugby Championships 2016
    • → Rugby Sordos Argentina vs NZ Deaf Blacks 2016
    • → ANNOUNCEMENT: Japan Tour Cancelled
    • → International Deaf Rugby Conference 2016
    • → Trip to Japan and information for supporters
    • → Collins makes NZ Deaf team for Australia tour
    • → Tama tackles his hearing loss
    • → Deaf Blacks gear up for Trans-Tasman rugby clash
    • → Interest to play for Deaf Women's Rugby
    • → Official NZ Deaf Rugby Squad
    • → National Deaf Rugby Championship - Social Dinner 2015
    • → Special Announcement - Japan Tour 2015
    • → National Deaf Rugby Championship 2015
    • → Cochlear Cup Tour 2015
    • → Deafness no barrier to Mitchell's rugby dreams
    • → 26th National Deaf Rugby Championship 2019
  • Contact Us

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