Philadelphia Gryphons
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The Philadelphia Gryphons is the first rugby union football club in Philadelphia established to invite members from traditionally under-represented groups, particularly gay men, to engage in the world’s third most popular team sport. The Gryphons has an open-door policy for newcomers, experienced players, coaches and fans of all ages, races and sexual orientations.
The Philadelphia Gryphons is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union (EPRU) and the International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRAB).
[edit] History
The Gryphons started out when members from the Gotham Knights Rugby Football Club and the Washington Renegades Rugby Football Club visited Philadelphia on January 24, 2003 in order to spark interest in the sport. The initial response from Philadelphia was strong.
As of May 10, 2003, the newly-named Gryphons (the team was previously named PG Rugby, short for Philadelphia Gay Rugby) established themselves as players in the IGRAB world. Seven very zealous men trekked to Randalls Island in New York City for a mini-bootcamp/scrimmage with the Gotham Knights Rugby. After 8 weeks of practice, the Gryphons got onto a pitch to play. Though the Gryphons did not win, the match fulfilled the club's requirements of membership for IGRAB and the club was soon voted in as a full member.
Currently, the Gryphons has successfully applied for Associate Membership in the ERPU.
[edit] Awards
In 2004, the Gryphons won the Bingham Bowl, the consolation league top prize, during the 2nd Bingham Cup in London, UK. Alice Hogan, Mark Bingham's mother, presented the Gryphons with the Bingham Bowl at Esher RFC on May 30, 2004.
