Skwirel Vincent on Joining an Inclusive Rugby Team

By Skwirel Vincent, Executive Reporting and Planning Manager at HSBC UK

I had always wanted to play rugby, but as a Welshman, you weren’t taught the rules in school. It was expected that your dad would take you to games and teach you everything you needed to know.

I thought that was it. Even when I saw a “gay and inclusive” rugby team had formed in Swansea, where I lived, I thought it was for people who knew rugby but had stopped playing in school due to homophobic bullying.

I was so happy when my assumption was corrected, and I could join in at training sessions.

My zero experience soon grew to play full 80minute games, and my confidence in myself and my abilities grew leaps and bounds.

There’s something about being trusted and relied on by your teammates – some of whom have decades of experience – and it always feels great when you perform well!

The two most significant impacts rugby has had for me is when I relocated to the big city of Birmingham, joining the local “gay and inclusive” team (the Birmingham Bulls) gave me an instant social network which helped me settle into my new home town straight away. The second impact has been the friends I’ve made in cities across the UK and the world, from taking part in tournaments where over a thousand rugby players come together to play a sport we all love.

The next big tournament in the UK will be in Birmingham in 2023, where we’re expecting over two thousand players; watch this space!