LGBT+ rugby club make history with global trophy win
· Yahoo Sports
The south-west of England's first LGBT+ inclusive rugby team have made club history by winning a trophy at an international tournament.
Bristol Bisons RFC won the Hoagland Cup at the 2026 Bingham Cup for the first time in Brisbane, Australia.
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Sasha Acheson, Bristol Bisons director of rugby, said the trophy win was "six years in the making".
"We arrived as underdogs, beat exceptional men's teams from across the world and imposed ourselves physically without ever moving away from our rugby: hearts on fire, heads on ice," she said.
The winning match marked the Bison's highest-ever finish at the Bingham Cup [Bristol Bisons RFC]More from Bristol
Founded in 2005, the Bisons are the south-west's first LGBT+ and inclusive rugby club, with a community of more than 100 players, volunteers and supporters.
The Bingham Cup, which was held from 19 to 23 August 2026, is the International Gay Rugby (IGR) World Cup, and brings together thousands of players, supporters, and clubs from across the world.
It is named after former rugby player Mark Bingham who was aboard United Airlines Flight 93 which crashed during the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States.
The Bisons defeated the Chicago Dragons RFC 31-26 after extra time, marking their highest-ever finish at the Bingham Cup.
In 2024, the team took part in the competition in Rome in which they finished third.
The squad's journey to Brisbane was supported by fundraising challenges, including a 100-day cycle challenge covering the distance between Bristol and Brisbane.
"I am immensely proud of what the Herd has achieved in winning the Hoagland Cup," said Davey McAndrew, Bristol Bisons chairperson.
"It is a landmark moment in the club's history and the culmination of months of hard work, dedication, and belief from everyone at the Bisons."
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