THEGAYUK

Tag: Rugby

All the latest breaking news on rugby. Browse THEGAYUK’s complete collection of news, articles and commentary on rugby.

  • There are 84 naked guys in the latest Naked Rugby Players calendar

    There are 84 naked guys in the latest Naked Rugby Players calendar

    Despite the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, The world-famous Naked Rugby Players return with a new calendar The Naked Rugby Players – Unseen Bits for 2021 and is one of our favourite LGBT+ Calendars. Best of al it features never seen before images!

    Speaking about the changes the calendar had to make during 2020, principal photographer Monty McKinnen told us, “It sadly turned out to be impossible to shoot 6 rugby teams during 2020 as the pandemic raged through our communities and everyone kept at social distances”

    “Despite this, we’ve rummaged through the thousands of images from our past shoots to bring fans of the calendar never before seen pictures, from 12 teams across the UK.” 

    84 Naked Rugby Players

    The Naked Rugby Players Calendar 2021 – Unseen Bits features 84 players from twelve Inclusive Rugby teams from across the UK.

    Once again the calendar has teamed up with the Balls To Cancer charity to bring awareness of male cancers and features a monthly reminder to check ourselves for any unusual signs. 

    The calendar is available from TheNakedRugbyPlayes.com, TackleMag.co.uk and Amazon.  

  • Israel Folah’s contract is ending after ‘Gay Hell’ social posts

    Disgraced Rugby player Israel Folau’s contract has been terminated after a series of offensive social media posts.

    The Australian Rugby Union has served Israel Folau with a contract ending breech notice, following on from offensive social media posts, one of which said that “hell awaits” gay people.

    He can now accept the breach notice, in which case his contract is formerly ended or he can challenge it with a hearing.

    Last week he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” should “repent” because “only Jesus saves”.

    “Israel was warned formally and repeatedly”

    Chief Executive of Rugby Australia, Raelene Castle said, “At its core, this is an issue of the responsibilities an employee owes to their employer and the commitments they make to their employer to abide by their employer’s policies and procedures and adhere to their employer’s values.

    “Following the events of last year, Israel was warned formally and repeatedly about the expectations of him as a player for the Wallabies and NSW Waratahs with regards to social media use and he has failed to meet those obligations.

    “It was made clear to him that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.

    “All professional Rugby players in Australia are bound by the Code of Conduct and there is a process in place for any disciplinary matter. We appreciate that this particular matter will attract significant interest, but due process must be followed.”

    Embed from Getty Images

    In 2018 he received a backlash after another anti-gay tweet, in which said gay people would go to hell unless “they repent their sins and turn to God.”

  • Rugby player to be fired after series of anti-LGBT+ social media posts

    Rugby player, Israel Folau has come under fire for anti-LGBT+ social media posts.

    https://www.flickr.com/photos/125524007@N08/ [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
    Australian rugby player, Israel Folau, 30, is set to be fired by Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union after a social media post by the player suggested that “hell awaits” gay people.

    On Wednesday, he posted on Instagram that “drunks, homosexuals, adulterers, liars, fornicators, thieves, atheists and idolaters” should “repent” because “only Jesus saves”.

    Embed from Getty Images

    In a statement, the governing bodies said, “He does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts, In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.”

    “Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality,” the governing bodies said in a statement.

    “As a code, we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.”

    “Turn away from evil”

    Embed from Getty Images

    In another tweet sent on Tuesday, Folau wrote “The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free”, after Tasmania opted to make a baby’s gender optional on birth certificates in its state.

  • Are there LGBT sports clubs in Hull?

    Are there LGBT sports clubs in Hull?

    Hull is home to a friendly LGBT+ scene in the North-east of England and there are sports clubs for you to join.

    Are there LGBT sports clubs in Hull?
    RemazteredStudio / Pixabay

    If you like rugby there is the Hull Roundheads RUFC. They are a team of over 35 players and are an inclusive club where men of any gender, sexuality and race can come together for the love of the sport and get into rugby

    Find out more by visiting their website

    We’d like to expand this list. If you run or manage an LGBT+ sports club and would like to be listed here, please leave a comment below and we’ll be in touch.

  • New gay and inclusive rugby club opens in Devon

    New gay and inclusive rugby club opens in Devon

    A rugby club has been set up in Exeter for LGBT+ people who want to play rugby in Devon and Cornwall.

    The Westcountry Wasps RFC was set up by Andy Smith, a straight man from Exeter and Ryan Cook, a gay man who is a Special Constable for the Devon and Cornwall police.

    The Exeter based team will be the first of its kind in Devon and Cornwall, aiming to be a welcoming and uplifting environment for players of all sexual orientations and experience levels.The team will promote community spirit, equality, and diversity in LGBT+ players while committing to England Rugby core values of; Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline, and Sportsmanship. The team will welcome new members to taster sessions in Exeter and Plymouth this month before regular training sessions begin.

    Andy Smith, one of the clubs founders is a straight man from Exeter and played for an inclusive team, the Manchester Village Spartans for 10 years. About forming the new club, he said;

    “Seeing how rugby can change lives through new experiences, new relationships, new social groups, and how that can change attitudes has really made an impression on me. I want other people to enjoy the same experiences and make the same great friends I’ve had.”

    Ryan Cook, a special police Constable for Devon & Cornwall Police, started playing rugby at the age of 11, and has refereed for Cornwall RFU at County and Federation levels and is delighted to be a founding member of Westcountry Wasps RFC.

    He hopes to “bring together players that have never played before for fear of homophobia and allow them to thrive in a social scene of the club”.

    The club founders are keen to hear from anyone who wants to meet new people, make friends, get some exercise and get involved in sport. Free taster sessions will be held on Oct 13 in Exeter and Oct 20 in Plymouth where you can find out why thousands of men are joining inclusive rugby teams up and down the country.

    To find out more about Westcountry Wasps RFC and the taster sessions, please visit bit.ly/westwaspsrfc

  • Naked Rugby players return with their stunning 2019 calendar

    The Naked Rugby Players have returned with their 2019 calendar and it looks EPIC.

    Championing body positivity, inclusive rugby and cancer awareness the Naked Rugby Calendar has returned for a brand new calendar. According to sources, 71 cisgender and trans men took part in the project, which photographed inclusive rugby teams in the nude from all over the country.

    The calendar boasts 24 brand new pictures and a handy reminder each month for people to check their tackles for lumps and bumps.

    This year the creative team behind the calendar decided to go a little “renaissance” with the pictures. Speaking about the process photographer Monty McKinnen said, “If there is a connection between art and rugby then we were determined to drag it to the fore, kicking and screaming, if necessary

    “With a few cleverly angled soft lights, hard shadows and some furlong and battle weary figures strewn about the place, maybe, just maybe, we thought we could pull off a bit of the Renaissance with this calendar in the few hours we had with each club.

    “As with the first calendar our brief has always been the same, take the individuals as we find them. We didn’t want models, we wanted characters and, showing these characters in this artistic light, shows the beauty in us all.

    “That which is in the eye of the beholder, sounds corny yes, but it’s a fact!”

    BELOW ARE THE PICTURES NSFW

    Each year, around 200,000 men are diagnosed with cancer and 80,000 will die from the disease.

    As with the first calendar, a proportion of the money raised through the sales will go to Balls to Cancer to help with research.

    It is available to buy now on TheNakedRugbyPlayers.com and TheGayShop.co.uk and Amazon

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  • New video shows rugby is a game for all

    The Manchester Village Spartans have just released a video following one of their new players who talks about his worries of joining a gay rugby team and if he’ll fit in not being of ‘typical’ rugby build.

    Think rugby isn’t for you? Think again.

    If you’d like to join a rugby team then check out: FindRugby.com

  • Rugby team’s naked Mannequin Challenge is the only thing you need to see today

    Rugby team’s naked Mannequin Challenge is the only thing you need to see today

    Okay, we’re starting to like this Mannequin Challenge malarky. Especially after this super hot rugby team stripped off for theirs.

    SHU Rugby
    CREDIT: SHU Rugby

    This university rugby team have decided to bare all in their rather naughty / nice Mannequin Challenge. The Sheffield Hallam University’s men’s rugby team decide to get completely starkers to show off exactly how still they could be.

     

    http://shurugby.tumblr.com/post/153639017296/fresh-from-the-release-of-the-2017-shu-rugby-nude


    And if you want to see more, you can! They just released their 2017 SHU Rugby Nude Charity Calendar

    Calendar and Making of film are available at:  shurugbyshop.co.uk

     

  • Naked Rugby Players – What More Do You Need From An Article

    Sometimes we love our job.

    As they say a picture says a thousand words and these minxy pictures are painting quite the essay – mainly about how perky rugby players’ bottoms are.

    The Ipswich Rugby Club are selling their naked calendar full of tasteful nudes in support of Prostate Cancer UK.

    One of the players, Tom Ives, Centre, remarked about getting naked for the calendar in the cold, he said,

    “Normally a nude photo shoot, outside, in cold weather wouldn’t be my cup of tea but given the fact that the proceeds are helping to partially fund our tour and sizeable portion is going to a great cause (Prostate Cancer UK), it more than made sense to brave the nippy breeze in order to come up with this beauty of a calendar.

    “As to the choice of charity; I spend Monday to Friday working for an NHS end of life team, in which I bear witness to the effects end stage cancer has on people and their loved ones, so I felt the cause was more than just given the pain and upset caused by such a horrific condition”.

     

    Visit their shop to buy a copy

     

     

     

  • Naked Rugby Players – What More Do You Need From An Article NSFW

    Sometimes we love our job.

    As they say a picture says a thousand words and these minxy pictures are painting quite the essay – mainly about how perky rugby players’ bottoms are.

    The Ipswich Rugby Club are selling their naked calendar full of tasteful nudes in support of Prostate Cancer UK.
    One of the players, Tom Ives, Centre, remarked about getting naked for the calendar in the cold, he said,

    “Normally a nude photo shoot, outside, in cold weather wouldn’t be my cup of tea but given the fact that the proceeds are helping to partially fund our tour and sizeable portion is going to a great cause (Prostate Cancer UK), it more than made sense to brave the nippy breeze in order to come up with this beauty of a calendar.

    “As to the choice of charity; I spend Monday to Friday working for an NHS end of life team, in which I bear witness to the effects end stage cancer has on people and their loved ones, so I felt the cause was more than just given the pain and upset caused by such a horrific condition”.

    Visit their shop to buy a copy

  • First English Pro Rugby Player Has Come Out As Gay

    Pro rugby player Sam Stanley has come out as gay.

    Sam Stanley, 23, has become the first English pro rugby union player to come out as gay. His announcement follows Keegan Hirst’s coming out, which happened just a few weeks ago.

    Speaking to the Sunday Times, Stanley said,

    “I was 10 or 11 when I realised I was different to my friends.

    “I didn’t want to accept it, I felt that being different wasn’t right. I had a girlfriend and I was thinking that, like some people say, maybe it is a phase.”

    Stanley went on to say: “Millions of people are in the situation, even people who have been in [his partner] Laurence’s situation and they are still married but are gay. They cannot accept it themselves.

    “It is going to be an issue until more people and athletes come out, until it is not an issue at all. It might take years but hopefully lots of people will find the courage.”