Rugby Union
Rugby Australia, opens in a new tab is a Foundation Member of Pride in Sport and celebrates diversity of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, intersex status, ability, skill, cultural background, ethnicity, religious or political beliefs and life stage. Rugby Australia has a zero tolerance approach to any form of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia within our sport and organisation.
Guidelines
- Community Guidelines: For the inclusion of Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Rugby, opens in a new tab, Rugby Australia, (2022).
Programs
- Gay and Inclusive Clubs, opens in a new tab, (accessed 13 August 2025). Each club has partnered with a "Host Club" and play in the local suburban club competition within their associations. All 5 clubs are members of International Gay Rugby which provides them the opportunity to compete at IGR sanctioned tournaments such as the Bingham and Purchas Cup.
- Purchas Cup, opens in a new tab. Named after Andrew Purchas, a proud advocate for LGBTQ inclusion in sports, the Purchas Cup is held every other year outside the international Bingham Cup. The Australasian tournament hosts the five gay and inclusive clubs in Australia and invites international teams within the region.
International
Guidelines
- Transgender Guidelines, opens in a new tab, World Rugby, (accessed 13 August 2025). This Transgender Guideline aims to facilitate the participation of transgender players in rugby where it is possible to do so safely and fairly. Includes separate guidelines for transgender male, transgender female, and non-binary players.
- A Rugby Guide to Trans Inclusion, opens in a new tab, International Gay Rugby (IGR), (2020). IGR is committed to ensuring rugby is a sport for all and to improving tolerance and acceptance of LGBT athletes at all levels of the game, working to reduce barriers to entry for transgender athletes.
Programs
- International Gay Rugby (IGR), opens in a new tab was founded in October 2000 by a small group of Inclusive Rugby Clubs to provide opportunities for members of the LGBTQ+ community to enjoy competitive rugby whilst improving respect and tolerance for people of all gender identities and sexualities worldwide.
- Bingham Cup, opens in a new tab, (accessed 13 August 2025). The tournament was established in 2002 as the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament but has since been branded as The Bingham Cup and is held every two years, bringing together LGBTQ+ and inclusive rugby teams from around the world. It’s the largest amateur rugby union tournaments globally and is organized by a member club selected by the IGR membership from a choice of candidate cities.
- Amanda Mark Cup, opens in a new tab, (accessed 13 August 2025). First held in 2022, IGR’s women’s global championship runs in tandem with and as part of The Bingham Cup. Named after Amanda Mark, Mark Bingham’s best friend and long-time supporter of IGR and Bingham Cups, the Amanda Mark Cup was created to acknowledge the ever-increasing number of existing IGR clubs that have added female sides to their roster or the even more common establishment or joining of women’s rugby clubs.
- The Brisbane Hustlers Rugby Union Football Club will host the 2026 Bingham Cup and Amanda Mark Cup.
