The Bingham Cup is the world's gay rugby championship — a biennial tournament that brings together gay, lesbian, bisexual, and inclusive rugby clubs from across the world for a week of elite-level competitive rugby, community events, and the particular social warmth that characterises the global gay rugby network.
The tournament is named in honour of Mark Bingham, a gay rugby player from San Francisco who died on United Airlines Flight 93 on 11 September 2001 — one of the passengers who attempted to retake the plane from its hijackers. The Bingham Cup was first held in San Francisco in 2002, initially as a memorial tournament. It has since grown into a major biennial event that now attracts more than 60 clubs and 3,000 players from over 30 countries.
Gay rugby clubs compete in the International Gay Rugby (IGR) organisation's club circuit throughout the year. The Bingham Cup is the pinnacle event — a World Cup for gay rugby. Clubs compete in divisions based on ability, which means the tournament is genuinely competitive at every level, from elite club teams that train six days a week to social clubs playing their first international tournament. Every club that enters has a real shot at winning something.
The host city for the 2028 Bingham Cup is yet to be announced. The tournament is awarded by the International Gay Rugby organisation through a formal bid process, typically three to four years in advance. Previous hosts have included San Francisco (2002, 2014), Manchester (2004), Antwerp (2006), Dublin (2008), Nashville (2010), Toronto (2012), Sydney (2016), Amsterdam (2018), Ottawa (2022), and Brisbane (2026). The host city for 2028 will likely be announced in 2025 or 2026.
Check binghamcup.com for the latest updates on the host city announcement, dates, and registration. The IGR also announces host cities through its social media channels and via the IGR member club network. If you are affiliated with a gay rugby club, your club's IGR representative will receive information directly.
Any gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or inclusive rugby club affiliated with International Gay Rugby is eligible to enter the Bingham Cup. 'Inclusive' is the key word: you do not need to be gay to join a gay rugby club or to compete at the Bingham Cup. Most IGR clubs operate on an explicit inclusive membership policy — straight allies, friends, and family are welcome. What matters is that the club creates a safe, welcoming environment for LGBTQI+ players.
Competition divisions at the Bingham Cup are structured by ability rather than by identity. The tournament typically features an elite division (for the strongest clubs), one or more intermediate divisions, and sometimes a development division for newer clubs. This structure means every club is playing at a competitive level appropriate to their squad. Final division placements are confirmed in the run-up to the tournament based on current ranking and club self-assessment.
The Bingham Cup is considerably more than a rugby tournament. The week includes a Welcome Reception, a dedicated social programme of events organised by the host city, an official gala dinner, and a closing party following the finals. In recent editions, the host cities have used the tournament as an opportunity to showcase LGBTQI+ venues, arts and culture events, and city-wide activations that draw in non-rugby attendees alongside players and supporters.
The camaraderie between clubs at the Bingham Cup is one of the defining features of the event. After matches, it is common for opposing teams to socialise together — going from scrums to sharing beers within an hour of the final whistle. The gay rugby community has a specific culture around post-match hospitality that feels quite different from mainstream rugby, and it is one of the things that keeps players and supporters returning to the tournament every two years.
Supporters and spectators are very welcome at the Bingham Cup — you do not need to be a player or affiliated with a club to attend. Match entry is typically free or low-cost, and the social events are open to the wider community. Many queer travellers time their visits to the host city around the Bingham Cup specifically to experience the social scene, even without any rugby background.
Given that the host city for 2028 is not yet confirmed, early planning is limited to monitoring the announcement and keeping travel dates flexible around the likely tournament window. The Bingham Cup typically runs over seven to nine days in late April or May, which has been the most common tournament window across recent editions — though this varies by host city.
Once the host city and dates are announced, move quickly on accommodation. The Bingham Cup draws 3,000+ players plus their support crews, supporters, and guests, which creates significant pressure on hotel and short-term rental inventory in the host city. Past hosts have seen accommodation sell out in central locations within weeks of the announcement. Clubs are advised to coordinate group accommodation blocks through their club administrators.
For spectators and independent travellers, the accommodation strategy is the same: book as soon as dates and the host city are confirmed. Monitor binghamcup.com and the International Gay Rugby social media channels, sign up for notifications, and be ready to book. The closer you are to the match venues, the better — tournament match days generate transport congestion and being within walking distance of the grounds is a significant quality-of-life improvement.
Bingham Cup 2028 host city not yet confirmed as of early 2026. Check binghamcup.com for the official announcement. The Bingham Cup is the international gay rugby world cup, held biennially.
