Australian Rugby Union adds the Bingham cup to the trophy cabinet

Dec 4 • Australia, General News, International • 2273 Views • Comments Off on Australian Rugby Union adds the Bingham cup to the trophy cabinet

Australian Rugby Union has today become one of the first national sporting organisations in the world to be presented with a gay sporting trophy, after members of the reigning Bingham Cup Champions, the Sydney Convicts handed over the Bingham Cup.

The Bingham Cup – also known as the Gay Rugby World Cup – will be proudly displayed in the trophy cabinet at Australian Rugby Union headquarters until Bingham Cup 2014 in Sydney next year.

Bingham Cup 2014 official ambassador, Qantas Wallaby David Pocock joined Australian Rugby Union (ARU) CEO Bill Pulver to accept the Bingham Cup trophy at the official handover ceremony in Sydney today.

The event follows ARU’s announcement in August this year to develop an Inclusion Policy aimed at strengthening Australian Rugby’s commitment to stamp out discrimination and homophobia in Rugby.

The policy will be finalised before the Bingham Cup event in Sydney in August 2014.

ARU CEO, Bill Pulver also presented Bingham Cup 2014 President and founder of the Sydney Convicts, Andrew Purchas with an official letter of support for the Bingham Cup 2014 event.

Purchas said he was proud ARU had become one of the first to show this support and is delighted the Bingham Cup trophy will be on display in Australian Rugby’s trophy cabinet.

“Handing the Bingham Cup to be displayed at the home of Australian Rugby Union is extremely significant for the Sydney Convicts and gay Rugby around the world.

“ARU’s support has been very impressive. They’ve been instrumental in helping us to bring the Bingham Cup tournament to Australia next year.
“I’m hopeful the Sydney Convicts can keep the Bingham Cup here in Australia but I think many will be surprised and impressed by the high quality of international Rugby on display in what will be an intense competition,” Purchas said.

ARU CEO, Bill Pulver said accepting the trophy is a symbol of Australian Rugby’s support for the Bingham Cup and tackling homophobia in sport.

“As an international Rugby trophy owned by our very own Sydney Convicts, we’re proud to have it on display in our trophy cabinet here at Rugby HQ.

“Today’s event goes hand in hand with our initial announcement, which made Australian Rugby one of the first to announce a commitment to develop an Inclusion Policy.

“In addition to this, we’ve presented the Bingham Cup 2014 organisers with an official letter which underlines our ongoing commitment to support their initiatives to stamp out all forms of discrimination and homophobia in our game.

“Hopefully we can keep the Bingham Cup here next year and continue to add more international Rugby trophies to our collection,” Pulver said.