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.
SEASON 2026-2027
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 26 Sep 2026 | Village Spartans | To be played | Congleton 2nd XV |
| Sat 3 Oct 2026 | Oldham 2nd XV | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 10 Oct 2026 | Broughton Park 3rd XV | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 17 Oct 2026 | Village Spartans | To be played | Heaton Moor RUFC 3rd XV Men |
| Sat 24 Oct 2026 | Littleborough 3rd XV | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 31 Oct 2026 | Village Spartans | To be played | Stockport 4th XV |
| Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Broughton | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 28 Nov 2026 | Carrington | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 5 Dec 2026 | Village Spartans | To be played | Sale FC Norsemen |
| Sat 12 Dec 2026 | Village Spartans | To be played | Broughton Park 3rd XV |
| Sat 16 Jan 2027 | Village Spartans | To be played | Oldham 2nd XV |
| Sat 23 Jan 2027 | Heaton Moor RUFC 3rd XV Men | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 6 Feb 2027 | Village Spartans | To be played | Littleborough 3rd XV |
| Sat 13 Feb 2027 | Stockport 4th XV | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 20 Feb 2027 | Village Spartans | To be played | Broughton |
| Sat 27 Feb 2027 | Congleton 2nd XV | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 6 Mar 2027 | Crewe & Nantwich 3rd XV | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 13 Mar 2027 | Village Spartans | To be played | Carrington |
| Sat 3 Apr 2027 | Sale FC Norsemen | To be played | Village Spartans |
| Sat 17 Apr 2027 | Village Spartans | To be played | Crewe & Nantwich 3rd XV |
“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
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.
