Being hard of hearing shouldn't stop you playing rugby.

It certainly doesn't seem to have hampered players in Wales.

The Welsh national team clinched the first Deaf Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

And the team's backs coach Richard Davies reckons being deaf is no more of a disability than not being able to kick or not being able to pass.

He said: "The way a coach looks at it, most players have some kind of weakness.

"Some need to work on their kicking, others on their passing.

"It doesn't mean they can't play.

"In the same way, being deaf should never stop you playing either," he added.

Body language

Richard said coaches can use several methods to communicate with deaf players.

"I've picked up some sign language since working with the Wales deaf rugby squad," he said.

"But you could ask your coach to use flip charts and video analysis.

"It's also far more effective to demonstrate moves than to talk them through."

He said: "Deaf players are very perceptive and they can pick up on other players' body language.

"That's why they sometimes know a penalty is going to be awarded - even before the ref blows up!"