Kings Cross Steelers RFC win Bingham Cup
Steelers celebrate success in Ottawa and become first European club to win title.
The bi-annual global Bingham Cup tournament was held in Ottawa Canada last week with the finals taking place on Sunday 21st August. Welcoming over 50 clubs and 1,700 players from around the world, in men’s and woman’s competitions, it is one of the largest rugby union tournaments in the world
The tournament was first held in 2002 in San Francisco, in memory of Mark Bingham a hero of Flight 93 on September 11th . A celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allies rugby participation, it has since been held around the world, including London in 2004 and Manchester in 2012.
Two tremendous victories
This year Kings Cross Steelers RFC, the world’s first gay and inclusive rugby club, took four teams and nearly 100 players on tour. Competing in all three tiers of the cup across four days, the results led to the 1st XV facing Sydney Convicts in the semi-final, as they had in Amsterdam in 2018, this time coming off victorious and progressing to the final.
Playing against the New York Gotham Knights, the Steelers took an early lead and secured a 26-0 convincing victory. This was the first time the trophy has been won by a European club.
The 2nd XV were also victorious in their 2nd tier campaign the Hoagland Cup, named after Mark Bingham’s mother. This saw both cups returning to East London after the week.
Other English clubs represented in the tournament included: Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents, Lancashire Typhoons, Birmingham Bulls and Wessex Wyverns who formed a Barbarian side and won the third tier Challenger Shield. the Manchester Spartans were also represented with players supporting the World Barbarians and Emerald Warriors.
Matt Webb, RFU Council member and former chair of the Steelers, who was there, said: “The week has been a phenomenal showcase of rugby excellence, hosted by the Ottawa Wolves and Rugby Canada. Seeing the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community, with our allies, come together and celebrate our diversity and rugby abilities gives me hope for the future of our game.”
