Rugby Australia Formalises New Alliance With Australia’s Gay And Inclusive Rugby Clubs

Rugby Australia has formalised a partnership with four of Australia’s gay and inclusive rugby clubs, a move that Chief Executive, Raelene Castle, says “is a key step forward in fostering and maintaining a Rugby environment that is safe, welcoming and enjoyable for all members of the LGBTIQA+ community.”

Under the alliance, which also includes International Gay Rugby (IGR), a new Inclusive Rugby Committee will be formed with an agreement to be signed by the six organisations during the Purchas Cup in Brisbane over the weekend.

With a primary charter to grow the participation rate of people playing Rugby in the LGBTIQA+ community, the Committee will look to identify barriers and propose solutions to promote participation, as well as educating the Rugby community about the impact of homophobia on the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ participants.

The Committee will also look to strengthen and grow the existing four gay and inclusive Rugby Clubs – Sydney Convicts, Melbourne Chargers, Brisbane Hustlers and Perth Rams – and support the development of new Clubs.

“Rugby Australia has worked closely with the gay and inclusive Rugby clubs to develop a program to further support the development of Rugby in the LGBTIQA+ community,” Castle said.

“We want Rugby to be a game that all Australians can enjoy regardless of their age, race, background, religion, gender or sexual orientation and this formal alliance between Rugby Australia and the clubs is a key step forward in fostering and maintaining a Rugby environment that is safe, welcoming and enjoyable for all members of the LGBTIQA+ community.”

As part of the partnership, Rugby Australia will also work alongside the clubs and IGR to bring the Bingham Cup – the biennial world championships of gay Rugby – back to Australia, having hosted the tournament for the first time in 2014 in Sydney.