Good luck to the Vancouver Rogues squad heading to the 2024 IGR Bingham Cup taking place in Rome, Italy on May 23-26.
The Rogues will be flying the flag for British Columbia in Europe at the biennial World Championships of gay and inclusive Rugby.
Attracting over 140 teams worldwide and with 5,000 expected athletes in Rome, the Bingham Cup returns makes a welcome return to the calendar this year.
BC Rugby teamed up with Gilbert Rugby Canada to supply the Rogues with unique, inclusive training balls to use during the tournament.
Below is how you can follow and support the Vancouver Rogues in Italy!
View this post on Instagram
DONATE TO THE ROGUES’ FUNDRAISER
You can support the Vancouver Rogues and Inclusive Rugby by donating to their fundraiser below.
As a gay and inclusive rugby team, the Vancouver Rogues provide a safe and welcoming space for athletes to learn and play, regardless of sexuality. For many of the players, it’s their first year playing Rugby or they have returned to the sport. It is confronting to learn a contact sport as an adult, even more so if there is historic trauma from being harassed in sports as a kid. The Bingham Cup is a physically demanding competition, with 80 teams competing from 20 countries.
The money raised goes towards medical support and consumables, transport, logistics and Rugby gear. Many players are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds that can’t afford to go and we don’t want cost to be a barrier.
You can also keep up with the Rogues in Italy by following them on social media:
WATCH THE BINGHAM CUP ON THE RUGBY NETWORK
The 2024 Bingham Cup will be streamed live on The Rugby Network – learn more about how you can watch the tournament by clicking on the button below.
ABOUT THE BINGHAM CUP AND IGR
The Bingham Cup
The Bingham Cup was first held in 2002 in memory of 9/11 gay Rugby hero Mark Bingham, one of the passengers who fought back against hijackers on board United flight 93. While Mark and all on the flight tragically lost their lives when the plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, it is widely recognised that through the actions of those brave individuals on board, the plane did not continue on to its intended target.
Learn more about the Bingham Cup here.
International Gay Rugby (IGR)
International Gay Rugby (IGR) was formed in 2000 when rugby teams from across the world came together because they wanted to form an organization that promoted rugby as an all-inclusive non-discriminatory sport which everyone can play, regardless of sexuality. Formally known as the International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRAB), the formation of the IGR lead to the start of the Bingham Cup in 2002, which was originally known as the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament.
The goal of the IGR is to promote equality and diversity in rugby. Specifically, it strives to eliminate discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and to provide opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community to compete in rugby. The IGR wants to improve tolerance and acceptance of LGBTQ+ athletes at all levels of the sport of rugby and ensuring that no individual shall be excluded from participating in rugby on the basis of sexual orientation or identification. Since 2002, the IGR has experienced incredible growth. As of November 2019, IGR is made up of 6,600+ members, 4,900+ players, 83 clubs, 148 teams spread over 20 countries.
BC Rugby
A: 2015 Main Street, Vancouver, BC | V5T 0J8
T: 604.737.3065
E: info@bcrugby.com
BC Rugby gratefully acknowledges that its offices reside on the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
