Rainbow Rugby
Stonewall’s recent Rainbow Laces campaign saw players from England Women run out at Bedford with their boots rainbow laced.
The match programme also asked everyone to support the LGBT+ community by engaging with the campaign.
This was just the latest support for the RFU’s resolve that rugby is a sport for all, regardless of background, gender, sexuality or race.
All six Gallagher Premiership Rugby matches on the Stonewall launch weekend were dedicated to the Rainbow Laces campaign, with match official shirts carrying the special rainbow version of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby logo. Match branding carried messaging , including flags used by assistant referees and pitchside LEDs. All Gallagher Premiership Rugby and Tyrrells Premier 15s players were invited to wear Rainbow Laces and volunteers handed out 4,500 pairs at Bath Rugby, Northampton Saints, Harlequins and Exeter Chiefs.
The weekend formed part of the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the RPA’s commitment to inclusion. Steve Grainger, rugby development director at the RFU said: “We believe that rugby is a sport for all, regardless of background, gender, sexuality or race. By supporting the Rainbow Laces campaign and wearing the laces, rugby is making a strong public statement that we want our sport to be diverse and inclusive.”
Said England Rugby professional referee Craig Maxwell-Keys: “The Rainbow Laces campaign brings big stories from people like Nigel Owens and Sam Stanley which, while I was in the closet, were a comfort to me. When I told friends and other referees I was gay their reaction was very positive and really liberating. If I can help one person in the position I was in a few years ago then that is a positive. We can’t be complacent but rugby really is a sport for everyone irrespective of who you love, your gender or religion.”
There was also great excitement as RFU accredited gay and inclusive club Birmingham Bulls RFC were announced as hosts of the Union Cup 2021, by International Gay Rugby following a vote of clubs across Europe, ratified by World Rugby.
The Union Cup is Europe’s premier inclusive rugby event with 45 teams and 1500 attendees and their supporters and May Bank Holiday weekend 2021 is destined to be rainbow coloured in Birmingham.
Said the Bulls Chairman David Cumpston: “The Union Cup has developed into a huge tournament, with rapid expansion in numbers of inclusive teams across our continent fuelling its success. The UK’s second city has a reputation for welcoming the world and we are very excited to deliver the Union Cup here in Birmingham.”
RFU Rugby Development Officer for the area Stu Eades said: “I have every confidence that Birmingham Bulls, who play in the Greater Birmingham Merit League, will deliver a great event which will benefit not only rugby but the wider community. We wholeheartedly support them in this fantastic venture.”
Last summer the RFU took part in London’s Pride march alongside the Kings Cross Steelers, the world’s first gay and inclusive rugby club, who have since been joined by a further 19 clubs in England, the most recent being Hull Roundheads. With International Gay Rugby, the RFU also took O2 Touch to 15 local Pride events.
Lawrence Howard, who set up Typhoons RUFC Lancashire’s first all-inclusive rugby team, also won SPAR’s People’s Podium unsung hero award which had over 4,000 nominations from across the UK. The awards support and celebrate community sport.
As Stonewall puts it: “Whether we’re cheering or competing, we are all at our best when we feel part of the team.”
