It is an enormous privilege to become Chair of Manchester Village Spartans RUFC.
For over thirteen years, I’ve been part of this extraordinary rugby family: as a player, coach, Executive Committee member and now Chair. The club means so much to me and has given me so much, and it’s an honour to be able to continue to give back.
Before looking forward, I want to thank those who have helped bring us here.
Our outgoing Chair, Joshua Sanderson-Kirk, has led the Spartans brilliantly, giving an enormous amount of time and energy to our club. Alongside him, Gareth Longley, as Treasurer, and Jonny Fletcher-Wright, as Secretary, have worked tirelessly behind the scenes.
Josh, Gareth and Jonny, thank you.
Hoagland Bowl champions, and what a place to start
Now we begin our next chapter, and what a place from which to start.
We have returned from Brisbane as Hoagland Bowl Champions, paid for by the biggest fundraising effort this club has ever run.
That achievement showed what Spartans can do when we stand together.
Unione Fortior is our club motto and it matters. We are stronger together.
Historically, being a Spartan was more than belonging to an army. It was an identity: belonging to something bigger than yourself and standing shoulder to shoulder with those around you.
For me, that captures what our club should be.
We are more than a team. We are a community.
I want us to be ambitious. To grow Union and Touch. To develop players. To compete. To win.
But our success must be measured by more than trophies.
Inclusive rugby means there is a place for you
There are still people who look at rugby and wonder, “Is there really a place there for someone like me?”
I once felt that way myself. But the Spartans welcomed me in and helped me find the confidence, resilience and drive I never knew I had!
And today, particularly, our trans and non-binary communities face barriers that can make that question even harder.
So my answer is simple:
There is always a place for you here.
We cannot control every regulation governing competitive rugby.
But we can control the culture of our club.
Whether you are an experienced player or have never touched a rugby ball; whether you play Union or Touch; whether you are LGBTQ+, an ally, a supporter or simply looking for somewhere to belong:
You can be a Spartan.
Nobody should have to leave part of themselves at the gate in order to walk onto our pitch.
Because Spartans stand shoulder to shoulder, not because we are all the same, but because we aren’t.
Different backgrounds.
Different identities.
Different experiences.
However, we belong together with one badge. One club.
What comes next for Manchester Village Spartans?
So let’s be ambitious about what comes next.
Let’s grow, let’s compete, let’s look after one another and let’s build a club that Manchester can be proud of.
Because being a Spartan has always meant belonging to something bigger than yourself.
We are Manchester Village Spartans.
We are More Than Rugby.
Christian Davis
Chair, Manchester Village Spartans RUFC
Succeeds: Joshua Sanderson-Kirk
At the club: more than thirteen years, as player, coach and Executive Committee member
The Manchester Village Spartans are a pioneering gay and inclusive rugby club, one of the oldest in the world, formed in Manchester in 1998 and a founder member of International Gay Rugby. They have played in every Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby, since the first in 2002, and run Rugby Union and Touch sides from Sale Sports Club under Rugby Football Union accreditation. Read the club history, the 2025-26 season that ended with silverware in Brisbane, and the season ahead. New players, social players and supporters are always welcome: training, membership and joining are all on the club info page, and the latest club news is here.
