Biggest ever UK LGBTQ Rugby Tournament is coming to Birmingham

Gay rugby tournament, IGR Union Cup 2023, looks set to bring over £3.6 million ‘pink pounds’ to Birmingham from Europe and the UK later this month.

The rugby festival, which takes place at Perry Barr’s Pavilion stadium, will see over 47 LGBTQ+ rugby teams and 1400 players from more than 18 countries competing for the coveted winners’ title over three days of blistering back-to-back rugby. It is predicted that over 1000 spectators will watch the sporting action from the sidelines over the weekend, too.

Considered Europe’s premier marquee inclusive rugby tournament – and the biggest ever LGBTQ rugby festival in the UK - the IGR Union Cup 2023 will build on the success of the Commonwealth Games and takes place between 27^th April – 30^th April 2023. 

This year’s tournament will also see the return of the Women’s programme. Rugby playing Women from across Europe will make the journey to Birmingham not only to compete in the tournament but to engage in a masterclass training day taken by Ex-England and World Cup Winning coaches, Graham Smith and Gary Street.

James Anthony, Chair of the Birmingham Union Cup Organising Committee said; “Birmingham is known for being a progressive and inclusive city – both to live in and work in.  The IGR Union Cup tournament is an opportunity to also show the world that it’s also the number one city to play LGBTQ sports in, too”.

With a central theme of the tournament being ‘One Love’, the IGR Union Cup 2023 will be the first time the European LGBTQ+ rugby community and allies has come together in four years having been postponed from 2021 due to COVID. Birmingham is the ninth host city of the tournament and organisers are building on the legacy of the 2019 Union Cup in Dublin.

One of the leading Ambassadors of IGR Union Cup 2023, gay rugby icon, Gareth Thomas, commented; “As one of the most important LGBT+ sporting events in Europe, I was honoured to get involved in the previous Union Cup which broke down social barriers and bridged together communities across Europe.  This is such an important, high-profile tournament that really does make a difference.  I am proud to be an Ambassador for the Union Cup 2023 and to break down barriers in LGBT+ sport”.

To find out more visit  https://unioncuprugby.com and www.birminghambullsrfc.com or search for IGR Union Cup Rugby on social media.