Sports
Local gay rugby league finds its ‘sweet spot’
Round-robin tournament against Baltimore, Philly teams this weekend
When the Washington Scandals were formed in 2013, members carved out their own niche for LGBT rugby in the Washington area.
Their seasons consisted of scheduling matches with other teams from International Gay Rugby along with matches against LGBT-friendly straight teams. They also began attending tournaments throughout the Midwest and Eastern seaboard.
Fast-forward to 2019 and the Washington Blade checks in with the team on its growth and evolution.
The Washington Scandals have competed on the world stage in two Bingham Cup Tournaments since 2016. At the 2018 Cup in Amsterdam, the Scandals were awarded the Ben Cohen Stand Up Award for Team Sportsmanship in recognition of their positive attitude and respect for other players.
Locally, the Scandals are a member of Division IV of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference. A recent growth spurt has given the Scandals a strong potential to develop a second side (team) in the coming year. Just this past week, they had 44 players at one practice.
“We go through waves each season through recruitment, but we have become better about retention,” says Scandals Captain Tim Kilbride. “It’s been a big learning curve, but we have achieved a sweet spot and reached a critical mass.”
With a larger base of players to choose from, comes the ability to utilize rolling substitutions in matches. On Saturday, the Scandals will host a round-robin tournament in D.C. against the Baltimore Flamingos and the Philadelphia Gryphons.
The games will be shortened to 40 minutes for the tournament, which will serve as a trial for team rosters for the 2019 Capital City Rugby Cup in Columbus on Memorial Day weekend.
“We seek out matches of varying abilities, so our developmental players don’t have to just stand and watch,” Kilbride says. “It’s important to also have veterans on a team for field leadership. We don’t want our developmental players to get overwhelmed.”
Kilbride has been playing rugby since 2002 and has been with the Scandals since 2016. He mostly plays as a lock or a flanker.
“I love the physicality of the sport and the satisfaction of a hit,” Kilbride says. “We spend a lot of time together and team spirit is important for our success.”
Captain Joseph Sewell is quick to add that the creation of a second side (team) doesn’t mean the Scandals have an A-side and a B-side.
“Our development has an emphasis on creating harmonious units,” Sewell says. “Giving everyone playing time results in muscle memory and we are looking to develop two solid teams.”
He says the recent influx of players has led to creative scheduling to find match time for everyone but acknowledges that it’s a good problem to have.
Sewell joined the team in January, 2018 and plays fullback, wing and inside center. A recent highlight for him was traveling to New York with the Scandals for a match against the Gotham Knights.
“Here were two (International Gay Rugby) teams playing on the field before the professional rugby match of Rugby United New York,” Sewell says. “I scored the first try of the game and I have never been prouder of the way our guys played.”
The bond Sewell feels with his teammates is strong and the lessons learned go beyond the sport.
“My teammates are great examples of the type of person I want to be when I grow up. I am hoping to emulate many of their traits including patience and wisdom,” Sewell says. “There is such a powerful sense of community on the Scandals. My main reason for joining was to make friends, but I also learned how to play this really cool and mystical sport.”
Sports
‘Heated Rivalry’ stars to participate in Olympic torch relay
Games to take place next month in Italy
“Heated Rivalry” stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie will participate in the Olympic torch relay ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics that will take place next month in Italy.
HBO Max, which distributes “Heated Rivalry” in the U.S., made the announcement on Thursday in a press release.
The games will take place in Milan and Cortina from Feb. 6-22. The HBO Max announcement did not specifically say when Williams and Storrie will participate in the torch relay.
The Washington Capitals will host Pride Night on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they host the Florida Panthers at Capital One Arena. A special ticket offer featuring a Pride-themed Capitals rainbow jersey is available at washcaps.com.
Fans are invited to a pre-game Block Party at District E beginning at 5 p.m. The event will feature a performance by the band NovaKane. Specialty happy hour food and beverages will be available, as well as giveaways. There will also be a presence by several local LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Egypt
Iran, Egypt object to playing in Seattle World Cup ‘Pride Match’
Game to take place on June 26
Iran and Egypt have objected to playing in a “Pride Match” that will take place in Seattle during the 2026 World Cup.
The Egyptian Football Association on Tuesday said it told FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström in a letter that “it categorically rejects holding any activities related to supporting (homosexuality) during the match between the Egyptian national team and Iran, scheduled to be held in Seattle, USA, on June 26, 2026, in the third round of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.” Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran President Mehdi Taj told ISNA, a semi-official Iranian news agency that both his country and Egypt “protested this issue.”
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The draw took place at the Kennedy Center on Dec. 5.
Iran is among the handful of countries in which consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death.
The State Department’s 2023 human rights report notes that while Egyptian law “did not explicitly criminalize consensual same-sex sexual activity, authorities regularly arrested and prosecuted LGBTQI+ persons on charges including ‘debauchery,’ prostitution, and ‘violating family values.’” Egyptian authorities “also reportedly prosecuted LGBTQI+ individuals for ‘misuse of social media.’”
“This resulted in de facto criminalization of same-sex conduct and identity,” notes the report.
The 2024 human rights report the State Department released earlier this year did not include LGBTQ-specific references.
Soccer has ‘unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs’
The June 26 match between Iran and Egypt coincides with Seattle Pride. The Washington Post reported the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026 Local Organizing Committee decided to hold the “Pride Match” before last week’s draw.
“As the Local Organizing Committee, SeattleFWC26’s role is to prepare our city to host the matches and manage the city experience outside of Seattle Stadium,” said SeattleFWC26 Vice President of Communications Hana Tadesse in a statement the committee sent to the Washington Blade on Wednesday. “SeattleFWC26 is moving forward as planned with our community programming outside the stadium during Pride weekend and throughout the tournament, partnering with LGBTQ+ leaders, artists, and business owners to elevate existing Pride celebrations across Washington.”
“Football has a unique power to unite people across borders, cultures, and beliefs,” added Tadeese. “The Pacific Northwest is home to one of the nation’s largest Iranian-American communities, a thriving Egyptian diaspora, and rich communities representing all nations we’re hosting in Seattle. We’re committed to ensuring all residents and visitors experience the warmth, respect, and dignity that defines our region.”
The 2034 World Cup will take place in Saudi Arabia.
Consensual same-sex sexual relations remain punishable by death in the country. The 2022 World Cup took place in neighboring Qatar, despite concerns over the country’s anti-LGBTQ rights record.
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