The gay rugby story reads like a family tree, with births, name changes, divorces and sadly deaths. It is for this very reason that we often refer to the many clubs around the world as a “family”.
The first stirrings of this family came in the 1980s with several southern hemisphere clubs attempting to get off the ground, but sadly not lasting long enough to be officially registered. It was on 1st November 1995 that a small group of gay men met in the Central Station pub near King’s Cross, North London, UK to discuss the formation of the world’s first OFFICIALLY recognised Gay Rugby Club.
It is here where our story begins…….
November 1995
London, England, UK – Six gay men meet at the Central Station pub in the King’s Cross area of North London and agree to form a rugby club for gay and bisexual men.
King’s Cross Steelers, the world’s first officially registered gay rugby club is founded.
The “Steelers” part of the name came about because many of the club’s founder members were keen fans of American Football.
The Steelers’ claim to the title of the “world’s first gay rugby club” is based on the fact that South Africa’s Jamieson Raiders (founded in 1985) are an annual invitation team, rather than a registered club playing seasonal fixtures.
Additionally, the Sydney-based POOFTAs (also founded in 1985) played touch rugby rather than matches under the Union Code.
1998
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
Phoenix, AZ, USA – Phoenix Storm founded
Minneapolis, MN, USA – Minneapolis Mayhem founded
Charlotte, NC, USA – Charlotte Royals founded
Portland, OR, USA – Portland Avalanche founded (d. 2009)
Cardiff, Wales, UK – Cardiff Lions founded, 1 March
Brisbane, Australia – Brisbane Hustlers founded (d. 2007, r. 2012)
Malmö, Sweden – Malmö Devilants founded (d. 2007)
Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhagen Scrum founded (AKA Copenhagen Wolves) (d. 2010, r. 2017)
Grenoble, France – La Mêlée Alpine founded
Montpellier, France – Los Valents De Montpelhier founded
London, England, UK – The second Bingham Cup takes place in Esher, Surrey, hosted by the King’s Cross Steelers
Sydney & Brisbane, Australia – The first two games of the Purchas Cup are held, one game in Sydney, one in Brisbane. Named after the founder of the Sydney Convicts, Andrew “Fuzz” Purchas
Auckland, New Zealand – First trans-Tasman gay rugby match between Ponsonby Heroes and Brisbane Hustlers
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Cardiff, Wales, UK – Praetorians RFC founded, January (d. 2018)
London, England, UK – IGR and GRC merge to create IGRC, 29 February
Brighton & Hove, England, UK – Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents join IGR, 7 March
Swansea, Wales, UK – Swansea Vikings join IGR, 7 March
Portland, OR, USA – Portland Lumberjacks join IGR, 21 March
Reading, England, UK – Reading Renegades founded, April
Stellenbosch, South Africa – SteLGBTouch founded, April
Houston, TX, USA – Houston Roughnecks reformed after an eight-year gap, May
Nashville, TN, USA – Nashville Grizzlies host the eighth Bingham Cup, 22-29 May. Melbourne Chargers win the Cup for the first time.
Ashville, NC, USA – Blue Ridge Bootleggers founded, June (d. 2017)
Columbus, OH, USA – Columbus Kodiaks founded, June
Mendoza, Argentina – Huarpes Rugby founded, June
Baltimore, MD, USA – Baltimore Flamingos founded, July
Liverpool, England, UK – Liverpool Tritons founded, July
Barcelona, Spain – Mola’s Bear’s founded, July
Munich, Germany – Munich Monks founded, July
Berkshire, England, UK – Berkshire Unicorns founded, August
ISIRR join IGR as the first Society member, 17 August
Port Elizabeth, South Africa – Nelson Mandela Bay LGBTI Touch founded, October
Columbus, OH, USA – Columbus Kodiaks join IGR, 18 October
London, England, UK, 15 October – IGR announce that Amsterdam Lowlanders will host the 2018 Bingham Cup
Leeds, England, UK – Leeds Hunters founded, November
Liverpool, England, UK – Liverpool Tritons join IGR, 10 November
New Orleans, LA, USA – Crescent City Rougaroux founded, December
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Birmingham Bulls were due to host the ninth Union Cup, 30 April – 2 May. Europe’s IGR tournament gets postponed to 2023.
Charlotte Royals were host the North American Championship in 2021. This tournament was also postponed.
However, the IGR UK League Competition restarted after an 18month break with clubs competing across two levels in their Northern and Southern leagues (Divisions 1 and 2).
2022
Ottawa, Canada – The 10th Bingham Cup, postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, will be held in Ottawa in August 2022