IGRAB: Gay Rugby Worldwide

Support for the 2006 Bingham Cup, the largest amateur rugby competition aimed primarily at gay men’s teams, is running ahead of expected levels, with a new title sponsor and many teams expressing support for the new women’s divisions.

The Bingham Cup is the biennial international rugby competition named after Mark Bingham, a hero of United flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Bingham played for gay and bisexual rugby team the San Francisco Fog after leading UC Berkeley to national championships. The next Bingham Cup takes place in New York City in May 2006, and organizers expect 1,000 male players from at least ten countries, plus womens teams.

“We’re thrilled that XXL, a very popular London club, is our title sponsor,” said tournament chair Brian Devinney. “They join our other corporate sponsors, NZ Union clothing, United Airlines, Budweiser, Red Bull, Edirp Travel and the Roosevelt Hotel. It’s exciting to have so much support already, with about six months still to go until opening day on May 23, 2006.”

The decision to add women’s rugby is also boosting excitement for the tournament. “Already, New York Rugby Club and the Washington Furies have confirmed they will play in the first ever Bingham Cup women’s divisions,” said coordinator Toby Butterfield. “Teams from all over the USA, and even Canada are interested. USA Rugby moved the 2006 women’s national playoffs from Spring to Fall, so we expect teams to hone their skills at 2006 Bingham Cup next May.”

The competition has garnered many friends in women’s rugby and beyond. “The Bingham Cup is a rugby competition that truly embodies the spirit of the sport: hard-hitting competition, fabulous social events and the opportunity to meet new and old friends from around the country and the world,” said Lois Bukowski, a current Northern California/Pacific Coast B-3 ref who ended her playing career in 2002 with perennial National Champions, the Berkeley Allblues, after 15 years of experience at the club and representative side level. Bukowski, who refereed at both prior Bingham Cup events, is set to come to New York for the third one next May.