The Chargers are going to Ottawa to take on the world!
The tenth Bingham Cup - the world championship of inclusive rugby - will be held in Ottawa, Canada in August 2022. The Chargers will be there in force!
Check out the sections to the left for our Itinerary and more information - there will be regular updates,
WHAT IS THE BINGHAM CUP?
The Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament, or Bingham Cup as it is more widely known, is the biennial world championships of gay and inclusive rugby.
The tournament was first held in 2002 in memory of 9/11 gay rugby hero Mark Bingham, one of the passengers who fought back against hijackers onboard United flight 93. While Mark and all on the flight tragically lost their lives when the plane crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, it is widely recognised that through the actions of those brave individuals on board, the plane did not continue on to its intended target.
As a gay man and regular rugby player, Mark played for the San Francisco Fog as well as helping to set up the Gotham Knights in New York City. The Bingham Cup is held in honour of Mark’s memory and challenges stereotypes and perceptions of the LGBT+ community. Mark’s legacy sees rugby players, supporters and staff from around the world coming together every two years in a celebration of equality, inclusivity and sportsmanship.
From its modest debut in 2002, the 2018 edition of the Bingham Cup in Amsterdam gathered 74 teams from 20 countries, making it the largest amateur rugby union tournament in the world. With the growth in inclusive teams over the last few years, we expect 2022 will be larger still.
Ottawa will also feature a full women's tournament, following a small 4 team tournament in Amsterdam.