Source: PR Newswire (press release), Sydney Star Observer, Bay Area Reporter
Rugby players from the world's gay rugby teams are landing in Ireland this week for the the 2008 Bingham Cup, commonly known as the 'Gay Rugby World Cup'. The tournament starts Friday, June 13, in Dublin.
The tournament is the second largest biennial amateur rugby tournament in the world, according to organizers. The 2006 cup, which took place in New York, was the biggest yet.
The tournament is named for San Franciscan Mark Bingham, one of the September 11 Flight 93 heroes.
Thirty teams drawn from clubs around the world competed in the three-day New York tournament. The Dublin tournament is expected to exceed these figures with over 800 participants already registered for the competition. Organizers expect more than 1,000 people from all around the world to participate in the June 12-16 event, which partially coincides with Dublin's Pride celebration.
The Sydney Convicts plan to arrive in the emerald isle June 8, prepared to defend the world-championship title they earned in New York.
Convicts team spokesperson Iain Jepsen told Sydney Star Observer that, in spite of the loss of a few players to injury, the team is quietly confident about their ability to bring the trophy back to Australia.
“Mentally and physically we’re where we need to be,” Jepsen said the day after the team had their final briefing.
“We’ve been training three days a week as well as the matches and we’re going to have a couple of days when we get there that we’ll use to have a few games of touch and a couple of light training sessions. Nothing too hard though, we don’t want anyone to get any injuries while training.
The Dublin tournament is sponsored by Irish bookmaker Paddy Power which calls it the biggest International team sports event to take place in Ireland 2008 and also the biggest-ever commercial sponsorship of an Irish gay-focused event .
"Paddy Power have an innovative and risk taking approach to the market," said tournament director Richie Whyte. "We are delighted that they see the Bingham Cup as a good fit for them both in terms of its sporting potential and public profile. We expect our partnership to enhance an already great tournament and help to make it the biggest and best tournament yet."
Its support was a huge boost for organizers because Paddy Power is an integral part of the mainstream, testosterone-fueled Irish sports world.
"They take a risk," Whyte told the Bay Area Reporter, "but they see this as an opportunity to raise their profile to be part of a significant event in Dublin, from a sports and from a social or cultural perspective."
And since the event is sponsored by a bookmaker, it's accompanied by the usual betting lines. Paddy Power has installed the Sydney Convicts as its 15/8 favorites for victory in the tournament. They have also reported a gamble on English team the 'King's Cross Steelers' which has seen their odds tumble from 8/1 to 4/1 third-favorites.
According to Sydney Star Observer, the Convicts are expecting that the San Francisco Fog will be their primary challenge as the team was in the 2006 tourney in New York.
It is also the biggest ever sponsorship of an Irish gay-focused event and we are really looking forward to getting behind the lads to ensure that the 2008 Bingham Cup will be the biggest and most successful yet"
Full article: Ireland Braces Itself for 2008 Gay Rugby World Cup | PR Newswire
CONVICTS FLY OUT TO DEFEND TITLE | Sydney Star Observer
Dublin welcomes gays | Bay Area Reporter