Chargers shaping up for Bingham Cup

Chargers shaping up for Bingham Cup

The clock is ticking for the Melbourne Chargers who have just over two months left before they kick off in Manchester for their first Bingham Cup.

More than 30 teams from around the world are expected to play at this year’s world rugby union championships, attracting more than 1000 gay and inclusive players to the three-day tournament.

This competition will be the first for the Melbourne side while former Bingham champions, the Sydney Convicts have lined up two teams again for this year.

Chargers president Sam Minter said the team was “pretty much ready to go”.

“The preparations are going fantastically,” he said.

“It’s the first time a team other than Sydney will be represented as a squad at the Bingham Cup.

“It’s been really rewarding for us to have been down this 24-month journey to get ourselves to the point where we can represent Melbourne using a full squad.”

Minter said the team would be “competitive”, having played through the past two years of “fierce” competition from the local rugby union competition.

“We should be competitive, it’s been a tough slog in the two years leading up to Bingham,” he said.

“We won’t be competing for the Bingham Cup — the Bowl and the Shield are the tournaments for the developing clubs and that’s where we fit in.

“But nonetheless, we stand a pretty good chance of bringing home some silverware.”

The competition draw won’t announced until May which means the Chargers may very well take on the Sydney Convicts B Side.

Convicts president David Whittaker was excited for the Chargers but said there would be “no love lost” if the teams went head to head.

“We’re going to be really pleased to have our buddies there in Manchester with us, waving the Australian flag, but if we meet them on the field, there will be no love lost whatsoever,” he laughed.

“It’s a pretty serious rugby tournament and we want to win. Everyone wants to do the best we can.

“We’re so thrilled there’s a second gay team in Australia.”

Whittaker said this year’s tournament was shaping up to possibly be the best Bingham Cup yet.

“Our teams are coming together very well which is exciting, we have a lot of new players and we’re looking forward to a fantastic tour,” he said.

The Bingham Cup will be held June 1 – 3 in Manchester, UK.

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