Gay Scottish rugby team celebrate victory at Bingham Cup

A gay rugby club from Scotland have emerged victorious from the second pool at the Bingham Cup in the USA.

The biannual tournament, known as the ‘gay rugby world cup’ was held in Nashville, USA, this weekend, and saw teams battle in the heat as they fought for the title of the best Gay and Bisexual rugby team in the world.

Scottish team The Caledonian Thebans from Edinburgh were crowned champions of Pool 2, beating six other teams from the UK, Australia and USA to win the coveted Hoagland Cup.

The Thebans were amongst one of five teams from the UK and hope to host the competition in their home country in 2018, putting in a bid for the games.

Beating American team Chicago Dragons 38- 12, the Scottish team secured their win for the cup in a much different climate from what they are used to.

The team took to Twitter to share their success:

So, WE’VE WON! Champions of Pool 2 at Bingham 2016 and winners of The Hoagland Cup. Thebans 38-12 Chicago Dragons… pic.twitter.com/zAf0fpHBBN

— Caledonian Thebans (@ThebansRugby) May 29, 2016

Club chairman Owen Greechan told the Daily Record: “Scotland has always been on the inclusive rugby map, but now we’ve put our name in lights and it’s important we keep building on that.

Coach Neil Fox added: “What a feeling – to come here, beat some of the best inclusive clubs in the world and leave as winners is just amazing. We felt we had the potential and I’m so proud that we delivered to it. We played our best-ever rugby this week, but there’s more to come from this team.”

What a fight by @ChiDragonsRFC – live up to their name! Amazing match, thank you guys- let’s repeat @BinghamCup2018 pic.twitter.com/RmWwTNwBSe

— Caledonian Thebans (@ThebansRugby) May 29, 2016

The competition features many different levels of competition, with the Melbourne Charges taking the jewels and being crowned champions of the games, winning the Bingham Cup after beating neighbours Aussie Sydney Convicts 20-7 in the Grand Final.

The Bingham Cup was set up in memory of Mark Bingham, a rugby player who tragically lost his life in the 9/11 attacks in America aboard United Airlines Flight 93. Bingham was fundamental in the establishment of two premier gay rugby clubs in the States and since his death, the games have meant his legacy has been continued.

Founded in 2002, The Bingham Cup started off as an eight team tournament, now it boasts over 800 hundred players from 40 teams across the world.

The next games are due to be held in 2018, with Edinburg, London, Amsterdam and Toronto all hoping to be the next host.

Words: James Jefferson

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