The Bingham Cup is underway in Brisbane, with the opening day bringing together LGBTQ+ rugby clubs from across Australia and around the world for four days of competition.
Hosted by the Brisbane Hustlers, the tournament features the Bingham Cup men’s competition alongside the women’s competition, the Amanda Mark Cup.
The men’s competition is divided into three levels, with the Bingham Tier featuring the leading sides, followed by the Hoagland and Challenger tiers.
All teams play in round-robin pool games before going on to knock-out games over the weekend.
Australian teams are spread throughout the draw, including multiple sides from the Brisbane Hustlers, Sydney Convicts and Melbourne Chargers, as well as Perth Rams and a combined Adelaide-Tokyo BRAT-Sharks team.
Brisbane 2026 is also a milestone for the First Nations Lorikeets, who are making their Bingham Cup debut.
Here’s how the opening day unfolded.
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Amanda Mark Cup
Image: Ottawa WolvesThe Australian sides were competitive but unable to get over the line on day one, with Brisbane Hustlers Women going down 24-7 to Philadelphia Gryphons and Melbourne Chargers Women narrowly edged 15-10 by Irish side Emerald Warriors.
At the top of the early standings, Nashville Stone Lions made the strongest start of any side, winning both of their opening matches.
They beat Village Lions/Mudturtles 21-12 before backing it up with a 19-10 victory over Philadelphia Gryphons.
Ottawa Wolves, runners-up at the most recent Amanda Mark Cup in 2024, opened with a narrow win over Emerald Warriors before falling to Village Lions/Mudturtles.
Results
Round 1
Ottawa Wolves 14-12 Emerald Warriors
Nashville Stone Lions 21-12 Village Lions/Mudturtles
Philadelphia Gryphons 24-7 Brisbane Hustlers Women
Round 2
Village Lions/Mudturtles 10-5 Ottawa Wolves
Nashville Stone Lions 19-10 Philadelphia Gryphons
Emerald Warriors 15-10 Melbourne Chargers Women
Bingham Tier
Image: Brisbane HustlersThe marquee match of the opening round saw hosts Brisbane Hustlers renew their rivalry with Sydney Convicts, in a rematch of the 2025 Purchas Cup final won by Brisbane.
This time it was the five-time Bingham Cup champions who got over the line, with Sydney claiming a hard-fought 12-5 victory.
The Hustlers were already looking ahead to a possible rematch, describing it as “physical, old school rugby” before adding: “See you in the finals. We’re coming for you.”
Elsewhere in the top men’s tier, Melbourne Chargers Gold drew 12-12 with 2024 champions Les Gaillards.
Perth Rams Black were beaten 17-7 by Gotham Knights, while Sydney Convicts 2 went down 12-5 to Philadelphia Gryphons.
The First Nations Lorikeets began their historic first Bingham Cup campaign against one of the tournament’s traditional powers, San Francisco Fog, with the Americans winning comfortably.
Photo by Dean ArcuriResults
Pool A
Les Gaillards 12-12 Melbourne Chargers Gold
Gotham Knights 17-7 Perth Rams Black
Pool B
Sydney Convicts 1 12-5 Brisbane Hustlers 1
NZ Falcons 17-17 Los Angeles Rebellion
Pool C
Kings Cross Steelers 1 36-0 Seattle Quake 1
Philadelphia Gryphons 12-5 Sydney Convicts 2
Pool D
San Francisco Fog 1 38-0 First Nations Lorikeets
Kings Cross Steelers 2 19-11 Baltimore Flamingos
Hoagland Tier
Sydney Convicts 3 were one of the standout Australian sides anywhere in the tournament on day one.
The Convicts scored 62 unanswered points across two matches, beating Boston Ironsides 19-0 before a 43-0 win over Knights of Muddy Barons.
Their biggest challenge is likely to come from Washington Scandals, who also finished the opening day without conceding a point.
Photo by Dean ArcuriIt was a more difficult day for Melbourne Chargers Red in Pool C. They faced two of the strongest-performing sides in the tier, losing to Chicago Dragons Red and o Bristol Bisons.
Bristol finished day one with a remarkable 103 points from two matches, while Vancouver Rogues were similarly dominant in Pool A, scoring 92 points and conceding just five.
Results
Pool A
Vancouver Rogues 38-0 Appalachian Thundercatz
San Diego Armada 19-17 Appalachian Thundercatz
San Diego Armada 15-5 San Francisco Fog 2
Vancouver Rogues 54-5 San Francisco Fog 2
Pool B
Sydney Convicts 3 19-0 Boston Ironsides
Sydney Convicts 3 43-0 Knights of Muddy Barons
Washington Scandals 12-0 Boston Ironsides
Washington Scandals 38-0 Knights of Muddy Barons
Pool C
Chicago Dragons Red 12-10 Columbus Coyotes
Chicago Dragons Red 55-0 Melbourne Chargers Red
Bristol Bisons 63-0 Melbourne Chargers Red
Bristol Bisons 40-10 Columbus Coyotes
Challenger Tier
The host club had plenty to celebrate in the Challenger Tier, with Brisbane Hustlers 2 winning both of their opening matches.
The Hustlers defeated the combined Adelaide-Tokyo BRAT-Sharks side 21-12 and a dominant 45-0 win over Perth Rams White.
Image: Brisbane HustlersThey share the top of Pool C with Crescent City Rougaroux, who also won twice, setting up a showdown between the two unbeaten sides on Friday.
Sydney Convicts 4 also opened impressively with a 37-0 victory over Chicago Dragons Blue, while Melbourne Chargers Purple had a difficult opening day against two strong opponents.
Among the international teams, Manchester Village Spartans were particularly impressive, winning twice without conceding a point, while Seattle Quake 2 also finished day one unbeaten.
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Results
Pool A
Amsterdam Lowlanders 26-0 Space Otters
Atlanta Bucks 24-15 Space Otters
Atlanta Bucks 20-12 Armada Wolves
Amsterdam Lowlanders 17-7 Armada Wolves
Pool B
Seattle Quake 2 52-7 Chicago Dragons Blue
Sydney Convicts 4 37-0 Chicago Dragons Blue
Seattle Quake 2 17-0 Melbourne Chargers Purple
Manchester Village Spartans 54-0 Melbourne Chargers Purple
Manchester Village Spartans 31-0 San Francisco Fog 3
Dallas Lost Souls 59-0 San Francisco Fog 3
Pool C
Crescent City Rougaroux 14-12 Adelaide-Tokyo BRAT-Sharks
Brisbane Hustlers 2 21-12 Adelaide-Tokyo BRAT-Sharks
Brisbane Hustlers 2 45-0 Perth Rams White
Crescent City Rougaroux 38-0 Perth Rams White
Day 2 action and what to watch
Pool matches continue on Friday before the tournament moves into the knockout stages over the weekend, with finals on Sunday. In the Amanda Mark Cup, Nashville Stone Lions v Melbourne Chargers Women is one to watch, with Nashville the only side to win both of their opening matches.
In the Bingham Tier, Brisbane Hustlers 1 v NZ Falcons is an important one for the hosts after their opening loss to Sydney Convicts, while Melbourne Chargers Gold v Gotham Knights could have a big say in Pool A after the Chargers drew with defending champions Les Gaillards on day one. The First Nations Lorikeets also continue their debut campaign against Baltimore Flamingos.
Elsewhere, Sydney Convicts 3 v Washington Scandals is one of the standout Hoagland matches, with neither side having conceded a point, while Brisbane Hustlers 2 v Crescent City Rougaroux is a Challenger Tier clash between two unbeaten teams.
Friday fixtures
Photo by Dean ArcuriAmanda Mark Cup
Round 3
9:00 am Ottawa Wolves v Philadelphia Gryphons — North Brisbane Rugby Club
9:50 am Nashville Stone Lions v Melbourne Chargers Women — North Brisbane Rugby Club
12:20 pm Emerald Warriors v Brisbane Hustlers Women — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Round 4
2:00 pm Philadelphia Gryphons v Melbourne Chargers Women — North Brisbane Rugby Club
3:40 pm Village Lions/Mudturtles v Brisbane Hustlers Women — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Bingham Tier
Round 2
Pool D
9:00 am San Francisco Fog 1 v Kings Cross Steelers 2nd XV — North Brisbane Rugby Club
9:00 am First Nations Lorikeets v Baltimore Flamingos — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool C
9:50 am Seattle Quake 1 v Sydney Convicts 2 — North Brisbane Rugby Club
9:50 am Kings Cross Steelers 1XV v Philadelphia Gryphons Men — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool A
10:40 am Melbourne Chargers Gold v Perth Rams Black — North Brisbane Rugby Club
10:40 am Les Gaillards v Gotham Knights — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool B
11:30 am Brisbane Hustlers 1 v NZ Falcons — North Brisbane Rugby Club
11:30 am Sydney Convicts 1 v Los Angeles Rebellion — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Round 3
Pool D
12:20 pm San Francisco Fog 1 v Baltimore Flamingos — North Brisbane Rugby Club
1:10 pm First Nations Lorikeets v Kings Cross Steelers 2nd XV — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool C
1:10 pm Seattle Quake 1 v Philadelphia Gryphons Men — North Brisbane Rugby Club
1:10 pm Kings Cross Steelers 1XV v Sydney Convicts 2 — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool A
2:00 pm Les Gaillards v Perth Rams Black — North Brisbane Rugby Club
2:50 pm Melbourne Chargers Gold v Gotham Knights — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool B
2:50 pm Brisbane Hustlers 1 v Los Angeles Rebellion — North Brisbane Rugby Club
2:50 pm Sydney Convicts 1 v NZ Falcons — North Brisbane Rugby Club
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Hoagland Tier
Pool A
12:00 pm San Francisco Fog 2 v Appalachian Thundercatz — Ballymore
1:00 pm San Diego Armada v Vancouver Rogues — Ballymore
Pool B
1:00 pm Sydney Convicts 3 v Washington Scandals — Ballymore
2:00 pm Boston Ironsides v Knights of Muddy Barons — Ballymore
Pool C
12:00 pm Columbus Coyotes v Melbourne Chargers Red — Ballymore
2:00 pm Chicago Dragons Red v Bristol Bisons — Ballymore
Challenger Tier
Pool A
12:20 pm Atlanta Bucks v Amsterdam Lowlanders — North Brisbane Rugby Club
4:30 pm Space Otters v Armada Wolves — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool B
10:40 am San Francisco Fog 3 v Sydney Convicts 4 — North Brisbane Rugby Club
3:40 pm Melbourne Chargers Purple v Chicago Dragons Blue — North Brisbane Rugby Club
3:40 pm Manchester Village Spartans v Dallas Lost Souls — North Brisbane Rugby Club
4:30 pm Sydney Convicts 4 v Seattle Quake 2 — North Brisbane Rugby Club
Pool C
11:30 am Adelaide-Tokyo BRAT-Sharks v Perth Rams White — North Brisbane Rugby Club
2:00 pm Brisbane Hustlers 2 v Crescent City Rougaroux — North Brisbane Rugby Club
You can check out our full Bingham Cup guide for everything you need to know about the tournament, side events and parties.
Bingham Cup and Amanda Mark Cup matches run from Thursday, August 20 through to the finals on Sunday, August 23, with all matches free for spectators.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
