Gay rugby hits DCU

The Bingham Cup, also known as the Gay Rugby World Cup, is to take place in DCU this June.

It will be the largest international gay event ever held in Ireland and will happen at the DCU Sports Complex in the summer.

Endorsed by the IRFU, the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament is the largest biannual amateur rugby competitions in the world.

Beating of stiff competition from Paris and Sydney, Dublin based rugby club and Ireland’s fi st gay rugby team, Emerald Warriors RFC were selected as the hosts for the tournament.

“It makes the general public more aware of the gay community and that we are normal, hard working, talented people,” says Barry Meegan, Warriors player and newly crowned ‘Mr Gay Ireland 2008’.

Mr Meegan spoke about his excitement and pride about the upcoming tournament: “For Gay rugby especially it shows them that this normally heterosexual and macho sport can indeed be played by gay men (and women) everywhere and so it helps break unhealthy stereotypes of gay men normally portrayed in the media.”

“Hopefully I will get my place on the 25 man squad for this summer’s tournament but competition is rife among the team for a coveted place so even my normal position as number eight is not a given and I will have to work as hard as anyone else to prove to the team managers and coaches that I deserve a place.”

Tournament director Richie Whyte saw DCU as the perfect venue for the Bingham Cup. During the hunt to find where to hold the competition, DCU topped the class in terms of sports facilities, catering and accommodation.

“We looked at a number of sites that we thought might be suitable for the tournament and fi nding five pitches on one site isn’t easy in Dublin. We felt that a campus based tournament would be ideal as it would eliminate many of the logistical and transport headaches of previous tournaments. DCU impressed us with their can do attitude. They have put their weight fully behind the tournament”

Asked if he felt an “all gay” event could be seen as discriminatory, Mr Whyte replied that the tournament was intended to be “inclusive rather than exclusive” and that the only requirement for people to enter was that they be comfortable around gay people and interested in playing high level competitive rugby.

Named after Mark Bingham, who was killed during the September 11 attacks, in recognition of his membership to one of the teams to play in first ‘gay’ tournament, over 2,000 players and supporters are expected to visit Dublin for the tournament.

Mark, aged 31, was on board United Airlines fl ight 93 when it was taken over by the 9/11 hijackers. Having learned the fate of the other hijacked planes, Mark along with other passengers stormed the cockpit.

Emerald Warriors RFC Breakdown

The team was formed in 2003 to provide gay, heterosexual and bisexual men the opportunity to play competitive rugby in Ireland and Internationally.

Currently active in the Leinster J4 League. The Warriors are the first Irish team to host the Bingham Cup. European 7’s champions in 2007, the club is open to anyone interestd in playing rugby union.

No experience is necessary and there is a training program for those who might lack the appropriate levels of fitness and skills.

Interested in joining the Warriors? Visit their website emeraldwarriorsrfc. com for contact details.