Club History 1 of 4

1. Club Name and Colours


The Origin of the Clubs Name and Status

The Kings Cross Steelers were founded at Central Station Public House in the Kings Cross area of North London.

The "Steelers" part of the name came about because many of the club's founder members were keen fans of American Football and came directly from the NFL team Pittsberg Steelers.

The Steelers' claim to the title of the "world's first gay rugby club" is based on the fact that South Africa's Jamieson Raiders (founded in 1985) are an annual invitation team, rather than a registered club playing seasonal fixtures. Additionally, the Sydney-based POOFTAs (also founded in 1985) play touch rugby rather than matches under the Union Code.

Training started at the beginning of 1996 and the club joined the Surrey County Union in the summer of 1996. The first game under RFU rules took place on 21 September 1996 when we played Orleans Former Pupils at Strawberry Hill (lost 92-10), followed by London Cornish 3 a week later.

Club Playing Colours

Kings Cross Steelers RFC first played in Irish green and royal blue inverse quarters shirts, royal blue shorts and plain royal blue socks.

The clubs tour shirt for the Union Cup 2023 revisited the history of the club by replicating our original colours.

The alternative strip shirts are burgundy and navy blue inverse quarters.