Just a few weeks after forming Swansea Vikings – Swansea’s first gay and inclusive rugby team – saw around 30 players turn up for training. Amazingly, only four had played rugby regularly before.
So what’s behind the success? Founder Steve Larcombe explains.
The Swansea Vikings was founded from the desire of gay men in Swansea to have their own rugby team, which would be inclusive regardless of ability, experience or sexuality.
There are lots of factors that add up in our success. It is important to get the environment right for people to feel comfortable playing and being part of the club.
We pride ourselves on providing a safe and friendly environment where social and financial barriers do not exist.
Swansea Vikings isn’t just about rugby. We are fostering the development of a community where friendships are forged and social barriers are overcome, working alongside local, regional and National Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) groups to promote inclusiveness in sport and to stamp out homophobia.
We believe in the importance of organised sporting events for the LGBT community to demonstrate and raise awareness that sexuality should be no barrier to participation in sport.
Swansea Vikings is made up of players who identify as straight and gay - and we are faster, harder, stronger, together.
There are barriers and homophobia still existing in sport today and we want to campaign to raise awareness of these issues.
We play rugby against local regular teams and other gay and inclusive teams and we’re made up of players with varying levels of experience and ability. But importantly, each and every individual forms an important part of our team.
Swansea Vikings was officially founded on the 9th May 2015 and we have over 40 regular players turning out to train with us.
It is amazing to think that we were the second gay & inclusive team in Wales, the 11th in the United Kingdom and 64th in the World.
Swansea Vikings has a thriving social calendar, beach parties, cinema trips, and our big monthly social event called the Viking Invasion. There are many more planned for the future.
Swansea Vikings plays and trains all year round - we don’t have an off season. We’re always recruiting new members regardless of whether they have experienced rugby before.
Email: swanseavikings@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swanseavikings
Twitter: @swanseavikings
Facebook Group: Swansea 2015 Rugby
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