Gay rugby club chair joins Olympic torch relay in London this weekend
The chairman of the London inclusive gay rugby club the King’s Cross Steelers will carry the Olympic torch this weekend.
Tim Sullivan, 51, was nominated as one of 8,000 torch-bearers to run in Havering on Sunday because of his work with the club.
The club is the world’s oldest gay rugby union club and have achieved success at international level.
Mr Sullivan has been a member of the club for 10 years and took over as chairman in 2009. Under his chairmanship the Steelers have repeatedly topped the tables in international competitions.
In June the club entered three teams in the Bingham Cup – the world championships for gay teams and rugby union’s largest international competition this year – coming third in the senior-level competition and winning the mid-level competition.
Last year the club travelled to Amsterdam, where its first XV won the Europe-wide Union Cup.
Mr Sullivan said: “I couldn’t be prouder to be representing the Steelers in the last few relays towards the Olympic Park. It’s been a great privilege to see the boys work so hard, and I’m delighted their efforts have paid off with a good haul of international trophies in the last couple of years.
“I hope Team GB can show the same grit, courage and determination I’ve seen time after time from the Steelers.”
Mr Sullivan will carry the torch along Airfield Way in Havering at 2.30pm.
The team, which is open to men of all sexual orientations and experience levels, has over 100 players and 65 registered supporters, and fields three teams in Essex RFU’s leagues.
This week, Jason Bromley, a co-founder of the anti-homophobia Pink Triangle Theatre donated his Olympic torch for use in the group’s schools workshops, where it has proved popular with children.
