Bristol Bisons RFC

1. Improve your personal fitness – take one look at a team photo and you will see we are an athletic bunch, or at least some of us are. Well one or two. Whatever your level of fitness joining us for training is a great way to improve and our survey of 20 rugby players says, it is a lot less boring then running on a treadmill

2. Make new friends – we’re a friendly bunch and are known for playing hard on the pitch and off the pitch. Once you join you will find your diary has never been so full.

3. Learn new skills on and off the pitch – as well as improving your ball skills and finding out if you are a right flanker or a loose head, with a team to run, events to organise and the kit to wash there is never a dull moment for those who want to get involved in the nitty gritty of the team

4. Be part of something bigger - the Bisons have just won the bid to host the Union Cup 2013 so we will be organising games and social activities for 14 visiting European teams. With up to 400 visitors from around the world coming to Bristol in 2013 now is the time to get involved.

5. Meet people from around the country and across Europe – we have fixtures and tournaments with teams from various parts of the country and from across Europe. Before you know it you’ll have friends and acquaintances everywhere you go.

6. Join us when we travel to exotic locations – this year we have been to Amsterdam, Edinburgh, and Newcastle amongst other places. We’ve travelled from exotic Derby to far away Hereford ... OK so exotic is pushing it, but we had a good time wherever we went.

7. Real men play sport – one of our members suggested this. We are all men and we do play rugby. Other than that you can decide for yourself exactly what is meant by it

8. Open to everyone – we’re not fussy, or so it has been said. The team is open to everyone – gay, straight, experienced, novice, fat, thin, tall, short. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t played before or if you were weaned on a rugby ball, just come along to training and see if it is for you.

9. Give back to the community – why a gay rugby team? Apart from having fun, we provide a great safe space where guys can be themselves as part of a great team. We’re all about the rugby, but we’re also proud of who we are and are proud to have helped others feel the same. Even if you can’t or don’t want to play, this is a great reason to join as a supporter.

10. Pink is the new black – Stand out in a crowd by wearing shocking pink. Everyone knows who we are and our popularity on the international gay rugby scene is proved by the fact that 10 out of 13 votes for the Union Cup 2013 went to Bristol. Pink is definitely the new black ... only less slimming.
 

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