The week-long event to be held in August 2014, will see up to 40 teams and 1500 players along with coaches and supporters hosted in Sydney. The event is now considered one of the world’s largest non-professional international rugby tournaments.

“Winning the rights to host the 2014 Bingham Cup is a great result for the Sydney Convicts and for Sydney. This will be one of the biggest events for the City and Eastern Suburbs since we hosted the beach volleyball in the 2000 Olympics.” Said The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, MP, Member for Wentworth.

Sydney will be the seventh city to play host to the Bingham Cup, a biennial tournament promoting diversity, inclusion and sportsmanship whilst challenging perceptions of gay male identity and sport.

“Our city is renowned for hosting world class events and Bingham 2014 will not disappoint,” said Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney.

“Bingham Cup 2014 will give Sydney the chance to witness the passion with which gay communities from around the world have taken to the rugby pitch.  It might also dispel a few myths along the way, by showing Australia that gay men can and do play tough contact sports like rugby.  Some play the game at a very high level; all play with the passion that marks a love of playing the game. The tournament will shine a national spotlight on homophobia in sport, which is still endemic to many of our sporting fields and experienced by many gay athletes, particularly youth. Insults like ‘fag’ and ‘homo’ have no place on the sports field, just as on the playground and at the work place,” Said Andrew Purchas, President, Bingham 2014 – Sydney Bid Committee.

The bid was successfully led by the Sydney Convicts Rugby Club, Australia’s first gay rugby union team. The Convicts were recently crowned gay rugby world champions at Bingham 2012, hosted in Manchester, and also won this year’s Nicholson Cup in the Sydney Suburban Rubgy Union Competition.

Australia’s most successful Wallaby Captain, ARU Board member and supporter of the recent bid, John Eales, says: “In many respects the Bingham Cup is more than just a rugby tournament.  It is an important demonstration of mutual respect and diversity which has always been part of the rugby community. Regardless of the football code you would like to play, sexuality should be an irrelevant consideration.  Unfortunately this is not a reality and there is still work to be done to eliminate negative stereotypes and homophobia in sport”.

Interstate gay rugby teams, the Melbourne Chargers Rugby Football Club and Brisbane Hustlers Rugby Football Club have also welcomed the announcement of the win. They will assist in hosting and also compete in the tournament.

In congratulating the Bid Committee on their win, IGRAB acknowledged the role played by a diverse range of high-profile backers including local, state, and federal politicians, Australian rugby administrators and high-profile Australian sporting greats.

“The wide ranging support shown by the Australian sporting greats, senior business leaders and government figures is remarkable. The strong endorsement of the Australian Prime Minister, Members of Parliament, State Ministers and the Governor of NSW highlights Australia’s willingness to tackle homophobia on the pitch, which remains one of the last places that discrimination is still common.  We look forward to a world-class tournament that celebrates tolerance and acceptance in a very welcoming and supportive city such as Sydney” said Jeff Wilson, Chair of IGRAB

Australian Prime Minister, Hon. Julia Gillard MP recently recorded a video of support and “strongly endorsed” the bid saying: “The vibrant city of Sydney is the perfect location for the Bingham Cup and the Sydney Convicts, Australia’s first gay rugby union club, are the perfect hosts.”

Fellow bid supporters included:
•    Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales
•    Mr. Nick Farr-Jones, Chair New South Wales Rugby Union Ltd
•    The Hon George Souris MP, New South Wales Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Hospitality and Racing; Minister for the Arts
•    Hon Clover Moore MP – Lord Mayor of Sydney
•    Councillor Andrew Petrie – Mayor of Woollahra

Note: copies of the letters of support can be accessed at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7oc2aegjre0wfsh/oYJQ2_13xE/Media

The direct economic benefit to the Australian economy of hosting the Bingham Cup has been forecast to be $4-6m AUD. The broader Australian tourism industry will similarly benefit from the influx of pink dollars, with post-tournament touring programs already attracting keen interest from the teams travelling from the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe and New Zealand.

The Bingham Cup 2014 Organising Committee will work with members of the community to assist with planning the event and also continue talking to potential corporate sponsors.  “The level of support shown by both the gay and rugby communities for Sydney’s Bingham Cup bid has been sincerely humbling.  We are hopeful that corporate Australia will get behind this event with the same enthusiasm.  Bingham 2014 will showcase their brands to an Australian and global audience with significant spending power. Traditionally, some major brands have been shy to support gay related events. But corporate attitudes to gay issues and events are changing for the better, in tune with Australia’s growing acceptance and inclusion of gay and lesbian people” said Andrew Purchas, Chair of the Bingham Cup Bid Committee.

Fans and supporters of the event are encouraged to connect with the event through the tournament’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/bingham2014) and on Twitter using the #bingham2014 hashtag

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Erik Denison 0400 996 560 or Jon Spring 0422 918 189

Media material available at:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7oc2aegjre0wfsh/oYJQ2_13xE/Media

The Convicts and Melbourne gay team, the Chargers, travelled to Brisbane to play the Brisbane Hustlers. The three teams fought it out in a one day tournament for the Purchas Cup, named after the founder of the Australian gay rugby movement, Andrew ‘Fuzz’ Purchas. It was the first time the Purchas Cup was contested between three teams with the Brisbane Hustlers recently reforming after a five year hiatus. The Melbourne Chargers are in their third rugby season.

More than three hundred spectators watched the tournament on a hot spring day at the Easts Rugby Club in Cooperoo. The rugby was hard fought but played in very good spirit and a number of players had a run with more than one team on the day. The Convicts defeated both the Chargers and the Hustlers to take out the Purchas Cup. In their first game as a rugby team since reforming, the Brisbane Hustlers defeated the Melbourne Chargers. The Hustlers had nine players in their 25 man squad who played their first game of rugby at the tournament. The Hustlers pushed the Convicts in the final match of the day, but the Convicts’ experience and fitness saw them come out on top in the heat. Brisbane player Charles Gregory was named player of the tournament after dominating at five eight throughout the day.

The Purchas Cup was awarded to Convicts Captain Jayson Down by the Chairman of the Queensland Rugby and ex-Wallaby Tony Shaw. Shaw said he was very pleased the Purchas Cup was played in Brisbane. After match celebrations took place at the Wickham Hotel where the Convicts Rugger Bugger show drew record numbers to the venue to raise funds for the Hustlers season 2013.

Fuzz Purchas said, “Australian gay rugby took a giant leap forward on the weekend. The tournament was the best ever. It’s fantastic to see gay rugby growing in Australia and high quality rugby being played at the tournament.”

Convicts President David Whittaker said, “Winning the Nicholson Cup, our first Grand Final in the local competition, is a milestone achievement for the Convicts. We battled against 11 strong teams and despite forfeiting two matches while we were in Manchester for the Bingham Cup, managed to take the premiership trophy. The game on Saturday was the Convicts A-side’s 18th consecutive win, including the six wins at the Bingham Cup tournament. We thank Woollahra Colleagues and NSW Rugby for allowing us to contest the Nicholson Cup and take our rugby to the next level.

Homophobia and bigotry still impacts the everyday lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians. The Convicts have shown that gay athletes are equally capable of playing hard and fair rugby and attaining significant on-field success while maintaining a vibrant and diverse off-field culture. Head Coach, Charlie Winn said, “I’m extremely proud to coach of the team, lead brilliantly by Jayson Down in only his second starting captain’s game while regular captain Steve Thorne was injured. Their belief was fantastic after having two tries disallowed, their heads never dropped at any point and defence was outstanding through the whole finals series with no tries let in.” “I’m very proud that two guys, who have less than a year or so rugby experience can be two of the best players on the field – that shows what this club is about”

Grand Final Captain, Jayson Down said as he accepted the trophy, “We thank the gay and lesbian and rugby communities for their fantastic support this year. It was great to see so many people make it to the game. “We would like to thank St George rugby, Hills and all the other Division 3 clubs for making us welcome in the competition this year and for pushing us to be our best. It’s been a long year of rugby but the boys did us proud.”

As controversy mounts over homophobia in footy, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has recorded a video endorsement to bring the Bingham Cup to Australia in 2014. “I strongly endorse the Convicts bid,” said Julia Gillard, in the recorded message of support. She added, “Australia is a sports loving nation which also has an abiding commitment to diversity and mutual respect.”

The Convicts are currently bidding to hold the 2014 Bingham Cup (The Gay Rugby World Cup) in Sydney following many successful tournaments held across the US and Europe.

In the video Prime Minister Gillard elaborates on why holding the Cup in Sydney would be a success, citing other recent sporting events held in Sydney, “In recent years, Sydney has hosted the gay games, the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup with a remarkable spirit of openness and celebration. I know that Bingham Cup participants would receive the same warm and generous welcome,” she also said.

The Prime Minister now joins other high profile Australians in the campaign to bring the Bingham Cup to Australia including Governor Marie Bashir, Lord Mayor Clover Moore and rugby legends John Eales, Phil Kearns, Brendan Cannon, Mark Ella, Nick Far-Jones and Peter Fitzsimons. David Pocock is also supporting the bid as well as the Wallabies and Wallaroos.

Founded to highlight the problems of homophobia in sport, including bullying and slurs, the Bingham Cup is now one of the largest, if not the largest, international rugby tournaments in the world. The Bingham Cup was named after Mark Bingham, the gay man who helped wrestle flight UA 93 from the terrorists on 9/11. The biannual tournament was started in 2002 to help dispel stereotypes about gay men and provide a safe place to play rugby. Many gay men have quit the sport because of homophobia on and off the field. Now over 1500 players and over 35 teams from every corner of the planet compete for the Cup.

Of those 35 teams, Australia is home to the world’s most successful gay rugby union team, The Sydney Convicts. The team has also won its local ‘straight’ competition numerous times.

The Bid to host the Cup will be submitted this week along with the Prime Minister’s Video.

Sydney Convicts Founder and Chairman of the Bingham Cup 2014 Bid Committee, Andrew Purchas, says, “The support for what we are trying to do has been overwhelming and very encouraging. It is very clear that homophobia is quite rampant in the footy codes and many of the Convicts players would not be playing rugby if it was not for the Convicts. If the Bingham Cup is played in Sydney it will hopefully demonstrate to a wider audience that gay can play rugby and shine a light on this issue. We have to work hard at making sure everybody understands terms like ‘gay’ and ‘homo,’ when used derogatorily, have a significant impact.”

Since their return, the Convicts A side hasn’t lost a game in the local comp, the Nicholson Cup, and has finished the regular season at third on the ladder. This is a great result given the Convicts forfeited two games while they were in Manchester. Last year the Convicts made it all the way through to the semi-finals before going down by just a point to the eventual trophy winners.

The Convicts remain the only gay team in the world to have won their local competition, winning the Halligan Cup in 2005 and 2006. The Convicts B side, which won the Bingham Bowl in Manchester, side finished its season in the top five in the Halligan Cup in 2012.

Convicts President, Dave Whittaker said, “It’s been a great year on the paddock for the Convicts. The Manchester success was something we’ve worked toward as a club for two years and is tremendously rewarding. We’d love to top the year off with a win in the Nicholson Cup.”

The Convicts play their first final on Saturday against eastern suburbs neighbours, Waverley, at 11.20am Deerubbin Park, Cornwallis Rd, Windsor.

“We are very grateful for the support we get from the community. We know Windsor is a long way for our supporters to travel, but we’d love to see a few make it out to cheer the boys on this Saturday,” added Whittaker.

The Convicts are proud of their achievements at the Bingham Cup but also proud of the entire gay rugby community. This was the largest Bingham Cup ever the largest rugby tournament in the world in 2012. The quality of play and organisation of the tournament improves at each Bingham Cup. The host club, Manchester Village Spartans, did a fantastic job and all teams played with pride and passion in true Bingham Cup spirit.

Convicts President David Whittaker said, “The tournament was a lot of fun but also grueling. The standard improves every time, so it’s gets harder to win the trophies. We think we had the best two teams that we’ve taken to a Bingham tournament but until you get there you don’t know how much everyone else has improved. Our preparation was top notch but it’s always tougher than you think
it’s going to be. We all have very sore bodies.”

It was a hard fought victory for both Convicts teams, which included quite a few injuries in the bitterly cold and wet conditions. The boys played with courage and great Convicts spirit. For many of the players, this was their first international tournament. The entire team pulled together, veterans and new players, on and off the field. There was also an incredible group of supporters including coaches, team managers, doctors, physios, trainers, medics and partners who came to help organise, motivate and repair both teams. The Cup and The Bowl could not have been won without them.

Commenting on the nature of the Bingham competition, David Whittaker said, “The highlight of any trip is making it to a grand final. The pressure and intensity of those encounters is something very special and it’s a privilege to be involved. There are also some awesome moments when a player who is relatively new to the game – we took 22 Bingham Cup virgins this year – does something unexpected and brilliant.”

“This could be a screaming run, a big tackle or dives on the ball and puts his body on the line. These are the wonderful moments of Bingham. The lows are more about whether your body can get you through the three days. It’s tough, it hurts and it’s exhausting. But we pull together and have amazing support from medical and support staff.”

The Convicts A side bounced back from the bitter disappointment of the 2010 Bingham Cup in Minneapolis where it went down narrowly in the grand final to New York. But David Whittaker thinks the team was stronger this time on a number of fronts.

“The Cup team was a well balanced team – with some great new recruits we are more consistent across the park. The preparation was first rate. Our fitness was better than ever thanks to a tough pre-season regime with our trainer. We also enlisted the support of a top notch sports nutritionist, to help get us through six games in three days”

The Cup grand final was a tough match and the players put everything on the line.

“Bingham Cup 2010 Champions New York were beaten in the semi-final by the Fog. The Fog are always a solid team and they played a hard and relentless game of rugby. The Convicts had to leave everything out there. When you win a Bingham you know you’ve earned it. The Fog have been at the very top of the competition from the beginning and today they insisted we be our best in order to win. We take our hats off to them.”

This was also the first international tournament that our brothers, the Melbourne Chargers, played in. They had a great semi-final match against the San Francisco Fog’s B team and won 8-0 bringing them to the final. Unfortunately they lost in the Grand Final to a very tough team, the Kings Cross Steelers from London. They lost 12-0 in a great game of rugby.

The players on all three Australian teams did a phenomenal job at the Bingham Cup and as the teams played their best to represent not only the community but also Australian rugby.

“A few years ago we set a goal at the Convicts to help grow gay and inclusive rugby in Australia. It was brilliant to see the Melbourne Chargers not only at Bingham but making it to the grand final in their tier of competition. We are hopeful that the Brisbane Hustlers will restart later this year as well and play at the 2014 Bingham Cup”, said David.

Responding to questions on whether the Convicts might host the 2014 Bingham tournament in Sydney David said, “We have indicated to the international Bingham organisation, IGRAB, that we would be willing to host the tournament in 2014. There is a process that will decide the host city for 2014 and we are very hopeful that it will be Sydney – the first time it will have been in the Southern Hemisphere.”

“Having the tournament in Sydney would do a lot for gay and inclusive rugby in the Southern Hemisphere. We would be very surprised if there wasn’t at least one team from NZ and potentially even a Pacific Islands team. We also would love the South Africans, East Asians or Argentinians to get involved. A southern hemisphere Bingham Cup therefore stands to take the tournament global and
see the emergence of a host of new gay and inclusive teams in the region. This would be great for the Bingham Cup.”

David added that the Convicts are humbled by the support they receive from the LGBT and rugby communities in Australia, “The Convicts would like to thank supporters, sponsors and everyone in the LGBT and rugby communities in Australia. This includes the invaluable support we get from the media. We couldn’t take 50 players and 20 coaches, physios, doctors and managers half way around the world to play in this great tournament without their generous support. We feel very privileged to represent our community and rugby in Australia.

“We would also like to thank the Manchester Village Spartans, the City of Manchester, IGRAB, RFU, and the Bingham teams for a brilliant week and a fantastic tournament.”

Black Dog Pushups had it’s origins in my habit of doing pushups in public.  Whenever I travel somewhere, I do pushups in iconic or unusual locations.  It’s one way to make you holiday snaps stand out.

Last year I was diagnosed with depression, and I’ve been engaged in a running battle against it since. I’ve had good days and bad days, but one thing that always seemed to help me keep the black dog at bay was getting regular exercise.

Eventually it struck me that as a man who loves pushups and hates depression, I could use one to fight the other.  I started raising money for the Black Dog Institute in Australia by doing thousands and thousands of pushups in various cities across Australia.

In the process, I also highlighted the important role that exercise can play in coping with depression, and tried to reduce the stigma associated with it.

Now I am coming to London to raise funds for Mind, the mental health charity.  My plan is to do 10 pushups every minute… for 12 hours.

That is how I fight my black dog.  Exercise is my antidepressant.  Pushups are my therapy.

If you or someone you know has struggled with depression, please donate to Mind so they can continue to help those in need.

Or if you are going to be in London on Thursday 7 June, feel free to come down and join me for a few sets!

You can follow Bill and his campaign against depression on Facebook or Twitter and donate to the cause via Everyday Hero or Virgin Money Giving

Bill doing pushups in Melbourne at Federation Square

Don’t miss this… Saturday 19 May – Rugger Bugger – Full Monty fundraiser at the Midnight Shift!

Your favourite rugby boys are back, along with our 2012 new players, for another night of revealing fun and entertainment. For just $25 you can enjoy not 1, but 2 hot shows plus additional entertainment from Maxi Shield and DJ Matt Effect.

The Bingham Cup is a few short weeks away and we need your support in getting us to Manchester to take on our rivals from New York. This is the last chance to see the boys in action before we head off to Manchester.

Pre-purchase your ticket from The Midnight Shift or Daisy Tickets online for just $25. Door sales will be available on the night for $30.

It’s a relaxed afternoon where we’ll be running through some basicrugby skills as well as a game of touch football. Once that’s wrapped up we’ll head across the road to the Centennial Park Hotel for drinks.

Everything kicks off at 5pm on the Reservoir Playing Fields at Centennial Park (just head up the stairs opposite the Centennial Park Hotel.)

More information is available on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sydneyconvicts