Rugby club king of inclusivity
East Anglia’s first inclusive rugby team, Colchester Kings, is throwing open its doors for new members after a stunning victory last season, which saw them win the IGR (International Gay Rugby) Division 2.
Colchester Kings are looking for new members!
Based at Colchester Rugby Club at the Northern Gateway Sports Park, this inclusive rugby team welcomes all members above 18 to participate and aims to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people, allies and anyone who may not have always felt that team sport was for them.
The club is always on the lookout for new faces, and stresses that knowledge of rugby isn’t essential to join.
A ‘Kings in Training’ programme is run by the club for first time players, an eight-week introduction to the basics of the sport which builds fitness and confidence in a relaxed, supportive environment.
The club also welcomes new members to join as supporters, meaning if you connect to the message but don’t fancy getting stuck in to play, support is just as valued by Colchester Kings pitch-side and at social events hosted by the club.
Despite their inclusivity label, Vice Chair James Silverstone, stresses that being a member of the LGBTQ+ community is not a requirement to join the team.
He says: “Our core message is that we are inclusive not just for members of the LGBTQ community, but for all players who may have been excluded within traditional rugby spaces.”
Inclusive rugby teams are a growing phenomenon across the UK, with multiple inclusive teams being established in East Anglia. Aimed at players who might have previously felt discouraged from the sport, Colchester Kings champions itself as a team that welcomes people from all walks of life and attempts to create distance from the hypermasculine image that is often associated with rugby.
Established in 2022, the team saw incredibly strong initial support for the club, highlighting the appetite for such an initiative.
“For our first training session, we expected maybe five or six people,’ says James Silverstone, the club’s Vice-Chair, ‘Instead we had 30 people turn up, and by the end of our first month, had almost one-hundred people at training.”
Since the establishment of Colchester Kings in 2022, there has been growing interest in inclusive rugby.
“The team itself has changed the LGBTQ+ community in Colchester” says Silverstone.
“The establishment of the club coincided with a string of openings of LGBTQ+ owned businesses such as Dragonfly Lounge which have gone on to be a huge success, impacting the growth of the community and creating visible spaces in Colchester for members of the LGBTQ+ community.”
For many of the players, the club has also acted as a lifeline, providing physical and mental support in times of crisis.
“I believe there are some players in our team who might not be here if it wasn’t for the club” explains Silverstone.
“Whether it would be from issues with substance abuse, mental illness or a feeling of exclusion, many of the players have found solace within a club that puts inclusion at its heart.”
The new rugby season will kick off shortly and Kings will be entering their first and second teams into the south pool of this year’s IGR.
To join the Colchester Kings Rugby team, go to their website to learn more: https://colchesterkings.co.uk/#987ff067-9a82-41d3-afb3-c9dc257a3aaf
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