This rugby team stripped off to get more gay guys into sport
The all-gay team recently announced the release of a 2016 calendar.
The Nashville Grizzlies RFC are a team founded to give players a safe and affirming place to play rugby regardless of their sexual orientation, background, ethnicity or experience level.
The Grizzlies were founded in 2006 and are celebrating their tenth anniversary season as Nashville’s only gay and inclusive rugby team.
The team have released a fundraising calendar to help raise money to cover expenses so the sport remains affordable to all interested players.
The calendar will officially début at the Grizzlies Red Dress Rampage, a fun run and pub crawl through East Nashville, on October 17 but is also currently available for pre-order from the Grizzlies Market.
It includes Grizzlies of all ages and rugby positions.
The Grizzlies will also host the Bingham Cup in Nashville in May 2016.
Named after Mark Bingham – who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks and who was himself a gay rugby player – the Bingham Cup is the biggest gay and inclusive rugby tournament in the world and is expected to draw 45 teams and 1,500 players and supporters to Nashville.
This will be the first time the tournament has been held in the south.
“This will be a great opportunity to show that gay and inclusive sports teams can thrive even in the South,” says team secretary Thomas Hormby.
“Tennessee has a reputation for not being gay-friendly, but we don’t let negative stereotypes about gay men prevent us from playing a game we love.”
Registration for the Bingham Cup opened October 1 and teams from across Europe, North America and Australia have already signed up.
