EXCITEMENT is mounting in the run-up to the world's first international mixed-ability rugby tournament which kicks off on Monday.

The inaugural competition involving 400 players from ten different countries takes place for five days at the Bradford & Bingley Sports Club in Bingley - the home of the Bumble Bees, England's first mixed-ability rugby team, formed in 2008 cerebral palsy sufferer Anthony Brooke.

The Minister for Sports Tracey Crouch, will attend the tournament finals where she will present commemorative shirts to representatives of the 12 mixed ability teams.

And visiting players will be out and about in Bradford, where they are staying at an Olympic-style sport village set up in the university's residential buildings.

Mark Goodwin, director of organisers International Mixed Ability Sports and Bumbles manager said there was a "real buzz" building around the event.

"This will be a great celebration of sporting inclusivity and community involvement," Mr Goodwin said.

"And we want everyone in Bingley, Bradford and the Aire Valley to give our visitors a fantastic welcome.

"We have teams coming from as a far away as Argentina and they will all be in staying in an Olympic village set up at the university as its students are all on holiday," Mr Goodwin said.

"We want people with profound and multiple difficulties to get involved and have a try at rugby.

"There are special amenities and toilets with a hoist, so everyone can come and take part.

"And on the Wednesday there will be an inclusive sports event outside City Hall in Bradford where people can have a go at wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and adapted cycling," he said.

Mixed ability player Ahsan Sakandar, of Bradford, has been with the Bumbles since the team's first training session and said his teammates were thrilled by the coming rugby spectacular.

"It's so exciting," said Mr Sakandar, 30.

"I'm really looking forward to meeting new players from all over the world."

IMAS development manager Jen Dyer outlined some of the events taking place next week, which start with a grand welcome ceremony in Centenary Square starting from 3.30pm on Monday.

"There will be all sorts of events through the week as well as the matches, especially on Friday, which is a family fun day before the final which takes place at 5pm," she said.

On the final day on August 21, there will be a festival organised by Disability Rocks from 10.30am at Bradford & Bingley Sports Club, with live music, stalls and entertainment, followed by the final with an awards ceremony and band night from 7pm.