George Network event with special guest Ben Cohen, Wed 10th Oct, NYC

If you’re in NYC this Wednesday 10th October, you are invited to join George at 6pm at Thomas Pink on Madison & 53rd for their latest networking evening with special guest Ben Cohen.

All are welcome (Free to members, $10 donation for non-members.  RSVP to Anna (george@stgeorgessociety.org)

Wednesday 10th October

Thomas Pink
520 Madison Avenue
6pm - 9pm

Featuring England Rugby World Cup Champion BEN COHEN, MBE    Join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres  Wednesday 10th October, 6pm Thomas Pink 520 Madison Avenue (between 53rd & 54th Street)  Click here to RSVP Members - free  Non-members - $10 donation

This October Thomas Pink will launch a special edition rugby collection as  the official outfitter to the British & Irish Lions tour to Australia in 2013.  To celebrate the launch, guests will have the opportunity to win limited edition cufflinks from Thomas Pink Rugby Collection as well as Thomas Pink rugby balls signed by Ben Cohen. Guests will also receive a pair of Union Jack Woven Button Cufflinks (valued at $50) with any purchase of $250 and purchases on the night will be donated to St. George's Society and the Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation. Cocktails provided by:

All proceeds support the charitable mission of: St. George's Society is a registered 501(c)(3) charity. It has a long and respected tradition of helping needy British and Commonwealth people in New York. HRH The Duke of Gloucester is the Society's Patron; and for over a century each serving British Consul-General in New York has been the Society's Honorary President. The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, Inc. is the world's first foundation dedicated to raising awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying, and funding those doing real-world work to stop it. The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3)  non-profit.

A tribute to a fallen teammate

Yesterday I learned of the sad news of the passing of my former teammate and friend Oscar Hernandez.  Oscar played hooker for the Washington Renegades in DC and his untimely death has resonated not only throughout his club, but also fellow players in the PRU and IGRAB unions.

Washington Renegades Bs with Alice Hoagland
at the 2006 Bingham Cup.  Oscar is left of Alice.

I had the pleasure of both coaching and playing with Oscar.  At the 2006 Bingham Cup in New York City, I led one of two teams the Renegades had in the tournament.  The B's were in the Plate side competition and faced some tough opposition from around the globe.  Oscar was a key component of our success in finishing 3rd overall.  On the eve of 9/11, as I look back on the tournament, I find myself thinking about happy times rather than two separate tragic events.

Today, in honor of him, the Renegades dedicated their 1st matrix match of the season against Rappahannock.  They won the game with an impressive score of 62-0, and posthumously named Oscar man of the match.  It was a fitting tribute to a man who will be missed by all.

If you wish to leave a eulogy, feel free to comment below or post on his Facebook page.

Bingham Cup 2010: Results and Standings

Finals 
(winners in blue)

Cup:				Plate:
Gotham A	18 - 15	Sydney A		Los Angeles	17 - 0	Manchester
Bowl:				Shield:
Sydney B	10 - 7	Washington B		San Francisco B	0 - 14	Emerald Warriors
Crest:				Spoon:
Gotham B	10 - 12	Phoenix		Seattle B	beat	Ottawa (forfeit)

Bingham Cup 2010 Report: Day 1

By Roberto Santiago

It was a gorgeous day at the Bingham Cup on Friday.  The weather was hot but never reached the humidity that was forecast.  The theme of the day was "blow out."  There were only a few games that weren't completely lop sided and only a few more that didn't have a score ending in "to 0."  

In the morning Washington DC B beat San Diego 46-5, Gotham B crushed the French, Madison beat Phoenix, Sydney B beat Seattle B, SF B mashed Ottowa, Ireland killed North Sea, a team made up of Brits, Danes, and Dutch.  Later on Washington B beat Seattle B 62-0, Washington A beat Atlanta 38-0, then crush Chicago.  Manchester tied Dallas for the lone draw of the day.

Despite the strong play by many teams two squads stood out above the rest.  The defending champion Sydney A won both their matches including an 80-0 demolition of Atlanta.  They were slightly outdone by the Gotham A side who's two wins included an 83-0 dismantling of Nashville.  

The wheat will be further separated from the chaffe today.  Washington A and B play Sydney A and B which will determine the seeding for that pool.  The last pool games will be today from 9:00-1:00 with quarter final matches starting at 2:00pm.

Bingham Cup 2010

Yesterday saw the the kick off the 2010 Bingham Cup in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  For those not familiar with it, the Bingham Cup is a biannual international, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament, first held in 2002. The tournament was named after Mark Bingham, a former University of California – Berkeley rugby star who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks on board United Airlines Flight 93. 

This year the tournament will feature 22 teams from all over the globe including my old team from DC, the Washington Renegades.  Current Cup holders, Sydney Convicts, will be the team to beat as defend their title and aim to make it 3 Cup wins in a row.

For further information on the event, head over to the Bingham Cup website and for the latest results, follow along on twitter @binghamcup2010.  And stayed tuned to us as we'll be bringing you special reports from Minneapolis courtesy of our Bingham Cup correspondent, Roberto Santiago.