Lions on top as Webb Ellis Trophy visits Cardiff

Now in their 11th year of existence, the Lions have had many highs and lows and currently sport a squad of over 40 players with various ages and backgrounds.

The club provides a safe space for guys; regardless of their sexual orientation, to learn rugby, improve their fitness and socialise. For many of the guys, it also provides a place to socialise and create friendships off the “scene” with regular games, cinema and charity nights.

Regardless of our members sexual orientation, the Lions are always striving to improve both on and off the field embodying the core values of Rugby Union; Integrity, Solidarity, Respect, Discipline and Passion. Having had a successful 2014/15 domestic season, the Lions topped it off with winning the Union Cup Bowl in Brussels.

“Being invited to attend the Trophy Tour tournament is a great honour for the Lions and is a fantastic start to our 2015/16 campaign.” says Lions Chairman Christopher Whitton. “The Trophy Tour, along with our very own Enfys 7’s tournament in August, is a great way to showcase the core values of Rugby Union and demonstrate that regardless of your sexuality, rugby is a sport for all.”

The Lions are pleased to have the ongoing support of Cardiff Harlequins RFC and the Diamond Ground, Whitchurch with use of their facilities. Their support has allowed the Lions to go from strength to strength to the point where the club is on the verge of joining a local league and taking the Lion style of rugby further.

Since their victory in Europe, the Lions have had several pieces of media exposure, including headlines stating that the Cardiff Lions are "Following in the footsteps of Warren Gatland's Wales"; they have been pushed to the forefront of grass roots Welsh Rugby and many people have questioned the need for clubs like the Lions and the newly formed Swansea Vikings, “Yes, we have had some comments made since the release of the [Wales Online] article about the need for gay-inclusive rugby clubs. With the evidence from the Out on the Fields Study and Sports Wales own study into homophobia in Welsh sport, this has supported why clubs like the Lions are still needed in 2015." says Christopher.

With several homophobic incidents also occurring in top-flight rugby within the past 12 months, the Memorandum of Understanding between World Rugby and International Gay Rugby (IGR) is a historic occasion and builds on the fantastic work that the LGBT Sports Cymru network, Sports Wales and Welsh Rugby Union have already undertaken. Christopher states that "The Cardiff Lions fully support the LGBT Sports Cymru network; which is also supported by Sports Wales and the WRU, and we hope that with showcase events like our own Enfys 7's that these will highlight that an individual’s sexual orientation isn’t a bar to sporting success.”

International Gay Rugby Chairman Jeff Wilson said that "This is a momentous occasion for LGBT athletes, supporters, officials and administrators and the people who support them in the game of rugby. World Rugby is a trail-blazer as a global governing body in committing to actively eliminate homophobia from any sport. We are committed to partnering with World Rugby to continue our work of making rugby the most inclusive and tolerant sport in the world.” The Lions are a proud part of IGR which is comprised of 54 gay-inclusive clubs around the world, including 9 here in the UK.

Since the formation of world’s first registered gay-inclusive rugby union club, the King’s Cross Steelers in 1995, the UK has been seen as a leading light in the sport, and now boasts a fantastic 11 clubs; an amazing feat for a country of less than 1,000 miles from head to toe.

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The Lions train throughout the year and are always welcoming of new players and supporters. If you feel that you would like to try rugby with the Cardiff Lions, or be one of our growing numbers of supporters; please email us, follow us on twitter and like us on Facebook.