Wrong Bears Club? Rugby Fans Accidentally Join Gay Club In Perth
Well, this is a bit of a giggle. It seems some eager Perth rugby league fans have found themselves barking, or perhaps roaring, up the wrong tree. The city’s newly announced National Rugby League hopefuls, the Perth Bears, are causing a delightful bit of brand confusion with a well-established local social group, Bears Perth. And yes, the latter has a membership base that’s likely more interested in a different kind of scrum.
A Hairy Situation
The North Sydney Bears, a name that might ring a bell for long-time league followers, are making a grand return to the NRL spotlight, but with a new home in the West. After a 26-year hiatus from the top league, their relocation and rebranding as the Perth Bears have certainly stirred excitement.
NRL Western Australia CEO John Sackson is bullish about their prospects, telling AAP, “I think it can be a countrywide juggernaut.” High hopes indeed for the team, which has recently appointed Anthony De Ceglie as its CEO and is aiming for a 2027 competition debut. They estimate around 30,000 local supporters are ready to get behind them.
Meet The Original Perth Bears
Now, hold your horses, footy fans. Before you rush to sign up, there’s another group of bears in Perth you should know about. Bears Perth, a social club for cis and trans blokes who fancy other blokes, has been part of the local scene since 1993. For those not in the know, in our world, a “bear” typically describes a chap who’s a bit more on the cuddly side, often hairy, and carries himself with a certain masculine presence. Think more leather bar than locker room, though sometimes there’s a crossover, right?
Oops, Wrong Club Mate!
This similarity in names has led to some rather amusing membership mishaps. Bears Perth found themselves with an influx of new sign-ups from folks looking for line-outs and league tables, not their kind of social gatherings. The situation prompted Bears Perth to post a rather direct notice on their website: “Rugby fans take note. We are NOT associated with the newly announced NRL club called ‘Perth Bears.’ Please do not sign up for membership if you are here to join the rugby club.”
Kingsley Dawes, the President of Bears Perth, seems to be taking it all in good stride. “They say there’s no such thing as bad PR,” he shared with Qnews. He also cheekily added, “Don’t get me wrong, I would love it if a whole bunch of burly rugby fans showed up to one of our events. But it may not be what they are expecting.” We can only imagine!
Consequently, Bears Perth had to temporarily pull their online membership system, resorting to manual sign-ups to sift through the applications and issue refunds where needed. It’s a bit of an admin headache, but certainly a story to tell.
So, if you’re in Perth and looking to support the Bears, maybe just double-check which den you’re heading into. One offers hard-hitting tackles, the other, perhaps, just harder hugs. Either way, it seems Perth is now doubly blessed with Bears.
