Les Gaillards Crowned Rugby Champions At Bingham Cup In Rome
The 11th Bingham Cup, one of the world’s largest LGBTQIA+ sports tournaments, concluded in Rome with an electrifying victory for Paris-based rugby club Les Gaillards. The French team clinched their first-ever championship title, defeating five-time winners Sydney Convicts 27-7 in the men’s top-tier final.
The four-day event in Rome had its ups and downs, with some issues like transportation and scheduling. But overall, there was a lot of positive energy, especially around the all-trans match that drew a big crowd.
Les Gaillards formed in 2003 but didn’t compete in a Bingham Cup until 2018. They’ve grown a lot recently, with 75 players and teams in different divisions. Club president Vianney Mosser told Outsports, “This is the biggest tournament in the world for non-professional rugby players.”
The French clubs play with 14 players instead of 15 due to insurance rules. Mosser explained, “We try to play very fast and aggressive to make up for having one less player.”
Their strategy worked, as they made it to the final. Mosser said the quarterfinal against Toulouse Touwin was their toughest match.
The next Bingham Cup will be in 2026 in either Brisbane or Buenos Aires. Mosser said Paris likely won’t bid to host in 2028, but they may try for the Union Cup, a European tournament.
For now, Les Gaillards are celebrating their big win in Rome. Mosser noted the importance of the trophy being named after Mark Bingham, a gay rugby player who died on 9/11. “It was always a dream for us to win this tournament in his name, and now we’ve done it,” he said.
