History
May 2009
Hosted Union Cup III with the 1st XV winning the Cup
May 2008
The Club went to Dublin for the Bingham Cup hosted by the Emerald Warriors. The Club came second in both the Cup and Plate competitions.
Nov 2007
Steelers win the right to host the 2009 Union Cup in London
May 2007
The 1st XV are promoted to Essex League 2
3 Feb 2007
First "gay marriage" of two Steelers members
May 2006
The Club travel to New York City to participate in the 2006 Bingham Cup
4 Nov 2005
10th Anniversary was celebrated at the Thistle Hotel, Kensington Gardens
May 2004
The Steelers hosts the 2004 Bingham Cup in Esher
21 Sep 2002
1st XV took part for the first time in the RFU Junior Vase and won the first round match against Pinner & Grammarians RFC 28 - 8.
28-29 Jun 2002
Steelers travelled to San Francisco to take part in the Mark Bingham Cup tournament, getting through to the final and winning the runners up Plate.
12 May 2002
Took part in Surrey Sevens tournament
Mar 2002
Won Rugby World / Tetley Team of the Month Award
8 Dec 2001
Both second and first teams play matches on the same day
18 Feb 2001
Second team plays its first match
3 Nov 2000
5th Anniversary was celebrated in the Sports Bar at Central Station, Kings Cross - the place where it all started back in 1995
23 Sep 2000
First Eastern Counties (3 South) League match
28-30 Jul 2000
Took part in the Rugby Sevens competition at the UK Gay Sports Festival held at Waltham Forest. Visiting US team, the Washington Renegades, and the Manchester Village Spartans also fielded teams
Jun 2000
Joined Eastern Counties (3 South) League
6 May 2000
Played Manchester Village Spartans at East London RFC. The Spartans won 15-12
2 Oct 1999
First Surrey County League Four match against Old Johnian RFC
18 Sep 1999
The club launched its Millennium Calendar as a fund-raising initiative to support participation in the Sydney Gay Games in 2002. Over £4,000 was raised
28-29 Aug 1999
First rugby tour saw the club play two matches during the Mardi Gras festival, one of these against the newly formed Manchester gay team, the Village Spartans. This was the world's first match between two gay/bi rugby teams. The Steelers won 22-15
29 Jun 1999
Opened the show on BBC2's Gaytime TV
28 Jun 1999
Became full members of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and at the same time joined Surrey County League Four
Jul 1996
Rugby News ran an extensive feature on the Steelers
The world's first rugby club for gay and bisexual men was founded at a meeting which took place in Central Station, a gay pub in London's King's Cross district on 1 November 1995. The "Steelers" part of the name came about because many of the club's founder members were keen fans of American Football. The Steelers' claim to the title of the "world's first gay rugby club" is based on the fact that South Africa's Jamieson Raiders (founded in 1985) are an annual invitation team, rather than a registered club playing seasonal fixtures. Additionally, the Sydney-based POOFTAs (also founded in 1985) play touch rugby rather than matches under the Union Code.
Training started at the beginning of 1996 and the club joined the Surrey County Union in the summer of 1996. The first game under RFU rules took place on 21 September 1996 when we played Orleans Former Pupils at Stawberry Hill (lost 92-10), followed by London Cornish 3 a week later.
Kings Cross Steelers RFC first played in Irish green and royal blue inverse quarters shirts, blue shorts and plain blue socks. The Change Strip shirts are burgundy and royal blue inverse quarters.
