Rough-and-tumble
gay rugby team Phoenix Storm has gained associate member
status in the Arizona Rugby Union, the team announced in a
press release. The team was accepted into the
organization June 2.
The Storm
submitted a petition at the rugby union's annual meeting,
asking to considered for membership by the state's governing
rugby board. Associate member status guarantees the
team at least six union matches and participation at
all union meetings.
According to the
press release, Ted Rybka, a representative from the
Storm, stood before the board and said, "We are the Phoenix
Storm. We are a predominately gay rugby team, but we
do have a few straights. So I guess you could say we
really are equal opportunity." He continued, "We
belong to the International Gay Rugby Association and Board
and in June 2008 we will be heading to Dublin to
represent Arizona. We would like to really represent
the state of Arizona by being an associate member of
the Arizona Rugby Union."
The rugby union
accepted the team's petition by a unanimous vote.
The Phoenix Storm
was founded in the summer of 2004 as a team open to men
of any sexual orientation, race, age, or prior rugby
experience. The team played its first match in March
of 2005; not a single player had played a game of
rugby prior to that day.
Head coach Phill
Barber said in the press release, "Being accepted into
the ARU is a huge step for our team as it signals that we
are ready to play rugby at a higher, more competitive
level. This is an exciting time for Storm
Rugby--joining the local Union and going to the Bingham
Cup in Dublin, Ireland, representing Arizona and the USA, in
only our third year is testament to the entire team,
coaching staff and supporters. Go Storm!"
The team
currently belongs to the International Gay Rugby Association
and Board, which is composed of 36 teams from across
the globe. The international association hosts
the biennial tournament for the Mark Kendall Bingham
Memorial Trophy, also called the Bingham Cup. The trophy
is named for Mark Bingham, a San Francisco rugby player who
made headlines for his heroism on 9/11. The Phoenix
Storm placed seventh its first time in the tournament.
The team will go to Dublin next June to
participate in the 2008 Bingham Cup. (The Advocate)