History

The Kansas City Carnivores Rugby Football Club (KCCRFC) was created in the wake of the 2010 Bingham Cup. The Bingham Cup is a biannual international, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament, first held in 2002. The tournament, named after Mark Bingham, was once a former University of California – Berkeley rugby star. Bingham died in the September 11, 2001 attacks on board United Airlines Flight 93 protecting our nation’s Capital.

On September 11, 2001, Brad Clark, the founder of the KC Carnivores, was two blocks away from the WTC when the first tower collapsed, when he found out about Mark Bingham, he identified with Mark's courageous story, and vowed one day to play rugby.

While at the Bingham Cup tournament, Brad got the chance to meet someone that would be life changing, Alice Hoglin, Mark Bingham's mother. As he told her his story,  she asked Brad "Why isn't there a gay team in Kansas City?" What could he say to the mother of a man who so bravely helped bring down Flight 93? Once back to KC, he conceived the Kansas City Carnivores, the first rugby club made of primarily gay men in KC.
The word about the club spread quickly and interest has been phenomenal. Even though the Carnivores are a gay team, anyone interested in playing with us are welcome, whether they are heterosexual or even herbivorous.

In December 2010 the KCCRFC will petition for associate member status in the local rugby union, with plans to achieve full status in 6 months to 1 year. They will start hosting home matches in the Spring of 2011.

Men (and women) come to rugby for a variety of reasons. Everyone has their own story as to why they play. Join the KC Carnivores and create your own rugby story.