NYC's Gotham Knights are the best gay rugby team in North America

The Sydney Convicts may have taken top honors at this year's Bingham Cup, but the Gotham Knights Rugby Football Club finished third overall and rightfully claim title of best gay rugby team in North America. 

The Bingham Cup holds a special place for the members of the Gotham Knights. Named for one of their founders and 9/11 hero Mark Kendall Bingham, the Cup takes place every other year, and this year's tournament, held in Dublin, Ireland, saw over 30 teams competing. 

The Gotham Knights RFC, New York City’s predominately gay rugby team, competed in the Premiere Cup Division and easily dispatched the Boston Ironsides (50 – 0) and San Francisco Fog’s B-Side (39 – 0) in pool play. After a semifinal loss to eventual world champion Sydney Convicts, the Knights beat the San Francisco Fog’s A-side in a consolation final, placing third overall in the tournament and earning bragging rights to be named best gay rugby team in North America. (Sydney beat London’s Kings Cross Steelers for the championship.)

In a hard-fought and tight game, the Knights beat the Fog (8 – 5) in dramatic fashion. The winning try was scored by Callum Sigg in the corner of the try zone as time expired. This victory made the Knights the third best gay rugby team in the world and the highest-ranked U.S. team.

"We worked hard to advance to the USA Rugby National Championships this spring," said team president James Bain. "It's a privilege to be the number one ranked gay rugby team in the hemisphere, but we'll keep pushing until we're number one in the world."

Prior to the start of play, a delegation of the Gotham Knights, accompanied by Mark Bingham's mother, Alice Hoagland, was received at Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paddy Bourke. Gotham's exclusive June 12 visit included a private tour of Mansion House and tea with the Lord Mayor, who personally served pints of Guinness and gave personal wishes for success in the Bingham Cup tournament. The Knights presented the Lord Mayor with a Gotham Knights rugby jersey.

Photos courtesy of John O'Brien and the Gotham Knights RFC.

Originally posted by James Schend

Comments

[AndyB]

Way to go, Gotham!!