Former British Lions captain Gareth Thomas has thrown his weight behind a campaign to bring the world cup of gay rugby to the UK in 2012.
Thomas wants to see the championships in the city of Manchester in June 2012, a month ahead of the London Olympic Games.
The biennial Bingham Cup is the largest 15 a-side rugby union tournament in the sporting calendar outside of the IRB Rugby World Cup and the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup.
Named after gay rugby player Mark Bingham who died on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, the tournament will see more than 1000 players from clubs drawn from 10 nations take part in three days of play.
Thomas – who was recently hailed as the most influential gay man in the UK by the Independent newspaper – said: “I’m passionate that anyone, regardless of their background, should be able to play rugby. Events such as the Bingham Cup help break down barriers and bring more people into our great sport.
“In the year London hosts the Olympics and with the world’s sporting eyes looking at Britain, I think it is right Manchester should host such a tournament.”
Britain’s bid for the Bingham Cup has also attracted other big name backers including Sale Sharks and ex-England player, Ben Cohen, championship rugby referee Nigel Owens and the Rugby Football Union, the governing body for the sport in England.
The RFU’s head of equity and inclusion, Nic Scott, said: We are pleased and excited that this prestigious international tournament in the lesbian and gay sports calendar may be brought to England. The RFU has offered it’s full support to the event as is pleased to be working with such a dedicated project team.”
The Bingham Cup started in 2002. Previous host cities include San Francisco, Dublin, New York with Minneapolis hosting the 2010 event in June this year.
The tournament bid has been organised by Marketing Manchester and Manchester’s gay rugby club, the Manchester Village Spartans RUFC. The tournament venue will be Broughton Park RUFC.
Manchester’s rival bid is Sydney, with the results due to be announced mid September.