The Nashville Grizzlies rugby team (http://www.grizzliesrugby.org) will host the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament, also known as the Bingham Cup, the world championship of gay and inclusive rugby teams, in May 2016. The biennial tournament is the largest men’s rugby union tournament on the international rugby calendar outside of the World Cup. In May 2016, 45 teams, composed of 1,500 rugby players from across the world, will come to Nashville to compete against other gay and inclusive rugby players for the Bingham Cup, currently held by the Sydney Convicts. Players and supporters will be housed at Vanderbilt University and matches will be held at Ted Rhodes Park in MetroCenter.
The tournament honors Mark Bingham, a member of the San Francisco and New York gay rugby teams, who died on United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. It is believed that Bingham was one of the passengers who overpowered the hijackers on-board, preventing the aircraft from reaching the hijackers’ intended target in Washington. First held in 2002, the Bingham Cup challenges stereotypes and perceptions of gay men and is open to all players, regardless of background, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
“This may be Nashville’s greatest opportunity to showcase all our city has to offer to the GLBTQ community nationally and internationally,” says Scott Ridgway, the 2016 Bingham Cup Host Committee Chair.
The local promotional campaign for the 2016 Bingham Cup begins with the Host Committee Kick-off Party, scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at the residence of Jim Schmidt and Joe Woolley. This event will feature the debut of the official 2016 Bingham Cup logo and website. Mayor Karl Dean has been invited to attend, alongside other public officials and dignitaries.
The Nashville Grizzlies thank the people of Nashville for their support of the Bingham Cup and looks forward to having everyone join them to support the players and the GLBTQ community of Middle Tennessee.
