NEW YORK– The Gotham Knights Rugby Football Club had a particularly strong showing at the Bingham Cup, an international rugby tournament. Held every two years, the tournament is named in honor of gay rugby player and 9/11 hero Mark Kendall Bingham, who helped found the Gotham Knights in 2001. This year’s tournament featured over 30 teams and was held in Dublin, Ireland June 12 – 15.

The Gotham Knights RFC, New York City’s predominately gay rugby team, competed in the Premiere Cup Division and easily dispatched the Boston Ironsides (50 – 0) and San Francisco Fog’s B-Side (39 – 0) in pool play. After a semifinal loss to eventual world champion Sydney Convicts, the Knights beat the San Francisco Fog’s A-side in a consolation final, placing third overall in the tournament and earning bragging rights to be named best gay rugby team in North America. ( Sydney beat London’s Kings Cross Steelers for the championship.)

In a hard-fought and tight game, the Knights beat the Fog (8 – 5) in dramatic fashion. The winning try was scored by Callum Sigg in the corner of the try zone as time expired. This victory made the Knights the third best gay rugby team in the world and the highest-ranked U.S. team.

“We worked hard to advance to the USA Rugby National Championships this spring,” said team president James Bain. “It’s a privilege to be the number one ranked gay rugby team in the hemisphere, but we’ll keep pushing until we’re number one in the world.”

Prior to the start of play, a delegation of the Gotham Knights, accompanied by Mark Bingham’s mother, Alice Hoagland, was received at Mansion House by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paddy Bourke. Gotham’s exclusive June 12 visit included a private tour of Mansion House and tea with the Lord Mayor, who personally served pints of Guinness and gave personal wishes for success in the Bingham Cup tournament. The Knights presented the Lord Mayor with a Gotham Knights rugby jersey.