First Published: Before August 2002
This is an OutUK Archive Item and so some of the links and information may be out of date.
TOP AWARD FOR UK'S FIRST GAY RUGBY CLUBBritain's first rugby club for gay and bisexual men has made history by receiving a top national rugby award in recognition of the progress made by the club's 1st XV in the RFU English Clubs Championship during the 2001-2002 season. The team has been named 'Rugby World/Tetley's Team of the Month' and features in the latest issue of the magazine. | |
| This prestigious title is open to more than 1,800 British and Irish rugby clubs outside the Premiership (or its equivalent). Only eight teams in the UK and Ireland receive this award annually and the Steelers is the first gay team in the world to achieve such an honour from the rugby establishment. | 
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| During the 2001-2002 season the Steelers won matches against seven of the other nine clubs in their division of the league (Eastern Counties 3 South), including a 20-0 win against league division winners Burnham on Crouch RUFC. | |
| "Winning the 'Rugby World/Tetley's Team of the Month' award is a major honour for our club and sends a clear message that Rugby Union truly ranks as one of the most inclusive sports in Britain," said Steelers' chairman Alex Standish. | 
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| "We are confident that this high-profile recognition will boost our recruitment of talented players for the forthcoming season. Our next goal will be to win our divison of the league and achieve promotion in 2003". | |