Gotham Knights
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- For the Batman comic and cartoon series, see Batman: Gotham Knights and The New Batman Adventures.
Gotham Knights RFC is New York's recent entry to the growing worldwide ranks of multiethnic and non-discriminatory rugby union teams worldwide. Following in the tradition of International Gay Rugby and Board teams like King Cross Steelers in England in 1995 and the San Francisco Fog and the Washington Renegades in 2000, recent part-time New York City business owner and resident, Mark Bingham, met with local rugby player, Scott Glaessgen, to form a New York team. Their plans were cut short on September 11, 2001, when Mark was lost in a terrorist attack on United Airlines Flight 93 over rural Pennsylvania.
The inspiration of Mark’s life, work, and dedication to the sport of rugby led Scott and other New York City rugby players to meet in late 2001 to establish Gotham Knights RFC. Practice started in the cold, early months of 2002 under difficult pitch conditions, but within weeks the membership grew exponentially. By late February the team had elected a president, officers, and a board, prepared for incorporation, ordered equipment, and decided team colors and logo.
Warm spring weather in New York City led the team into more intensive practices in March and April under coach Scott Glaessgen. The team added assistant coach Mio Nitta, formerly of Tufts Rugby, as well as a steady influx of new members. Club-wide social events coalesced Gotham into a group off the field. We started intensively recruiting in the metro New York area, searching for a fan base and sponsors to sustain our team. The Knights celebrated their first win over a union opponent in September 2004 over the Suffolk Bull Moose RFC. The team is currently coached by Harold Bahr with assistant coaches John Dent, Bob Hoban, Luke Martland and Tony Buzzeo.
Every November, the Knights host the East Coast Rugby Invitational featuring both traditional and predominantly gay rugby teams from across eastern North America.
The Knights were the host team for the 2006 Bingham Cup held over Memorial Day weekend. 29 teams from 22 clubs in 6 countries participated in various divisions, including the Bingham Cup's first ever Women's division. The Knights advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2004 Bingham Cup held in London and were runners up for the Bingham Plate that year. In 2006, the Knights advanced to the semifinal round of the Cup division, finishing 4th place in the top division, and the B side placed 4th in the Plate division.
