Stronger Together: bringing home the Hoagland Bowl
Outgoing chair Joshua Sanderson-Kirk on the club’s first ever Bingham Cup silverware, six wins from six in Brisbane, and a letter from the president of the Rugby Football Union.
Whether you’re an experienced player looking to return to rugby or a total beginner, looking to give rugby a try, Manchester Village Spartans RUFC, based at Sale Sports Club, have a place for you at our pioneering, Gay and Inclusive Rugby Union and Touch Rugby Club.
As the world’s second-ever LGBT+ Rugby Club and a founding member of International Gay Rugby (IGR) we’ve helped hundreds of LGBTQ+ and straight players discover, or return, to rugby by promoting the sport through projects such as Comic Relief’s Try For Change or England Rugby’s Spirit of 2012 and we continue to recruit players regardless of their gender, sexuality or rugby experience.
You don’t have to be gay to be a Spartan. You just have to have a good attitude.
Click for more info about Union or Touch and check our Club News page or Beginners’ Guide to Rugby Union.
“A positive atmosphere, good coaching.”
“A great way to get fit.”
“Good fun great exercise.”
“Fitness. Teamwork. New skills. Social. Fun.”
It cannot be a more positive experience.
“A big part of my life for the last 5 years.”
“I love what it’s done for me and life in Manchester.”
MANCHESTER VILLAGE SPARTANS CLUB SURVEY
SEASON 2026-2027
v
Congleton 2XVNOWIRUL The Last Drop Division 5 East
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 26 Sep 2026 | Spartans 1XV | v | Congleton 2XV |
| Sat 3 Oct 2026 | Oldham 2XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 10 Oct 2026 | Broughton Park 3XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Spartans 1XV | v | Heaton Moor 3XV |
| Sat 24 Oct 2026 | Littleborough 3XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Spartans 1XV | v | Stockport 4XV |
| Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Broughton | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 28 Nov 2026 | Carrington | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Spartans 1XV | v | Sale FC Norsemen |
| Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Spartans 1XV | v | Broughton Park 3XV |
| Sat 16 Jan 2027 | Spartans 1XV | v | Oldham 2XV |
| Sat 23 Jan 2027 | Heaton Moor 3XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 6 Feb 2027 | Spartans 1XV | v | Littleborough 3XV |
| Sat 13 Feb 2027 | Stockport 4XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 20 Feb 2027 | Spartans 1XV | v | Broughton |
| Sat 27 Feb 2027 | Congleton 2XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 6 Mar 2027 | Crewe & Nantwich 3XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 13 Mar 2027 | Spartans 1XV | v | Carrington |
| Sat 3 Apr 2027 | Sale FC Norsemen | v | Spartans 1XV |
| Sat 17 Apr 2027 | Spartans 1XV | v | Crewe & Nantwich 3XV |
Friendly
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 5 Sep 2026 | Spartans 1XV | v | Congleton 2XV |
| Sat 19 Sep 2026 | Broughton Park 3XV | v | Spartans 1XV |
IGR UK League North
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 19 Sep 2026 | Spartans 2XV | v | Typhoons |
| Sat 3 Oct 2026 | Spartans 2XV | v | Sheffield Vulcans |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Sheffield Vulcans | v | Spartans 2XV |
| Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Leeds Hunters | v | Spartans 2XV |
| Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Spartans 2XV | v | Leeds Hunters |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Liverpool Tritons | v | Spartans 2XV |
| Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Typhoons | v | Spartans 2XV |
| Sat 9 Jan 2027 | Spartans 2XV | v | Liverpool Tritons |
Outgoing chair Joshua Sanderson-Kirk on the club’s first ever Bingham Cup silverware, six wins from six in Brisbane, and a letter from the president of the Rugby Football Union.
Manchester Village Spartans, pioneers of gay and inclusive rugby, are through to the Hoagland Bowl final at Bingham Cup 2026 in Brisbane, where they will face Charlotte Royals’ Appalachian Thunderkatz, 14 years after the Royals made their Bingham debut in Manchester.
Spartans mentioned in Q-News Australia’s report on the first days of action at The Bingham Cup, underway in Brisbane.
Manchester Village Spartans RUFC are heading to Brisbane to compete in the Bingham Cup, the world championship of inclusive rugby. Backed by the largest fundraising campaign in the club’s history, a 25-player squad will represent Manchester on the international stage, celebrating competitive rugby, community and inclusion.
