Clapham Feelers

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The Clapham Feelers^[1] are a British open and inclusive LGBT+ touch rugby team and social club based in Clapham, London. Founded in 2015, it is one of the UK’s first LGBTQ+ touch rugby teams.

The Clapham Feelers provides a safe welcoming space for LGBT+ individuals to play touch rugby, and welcomes players at all skill levels who do and do not identify as LGBT+.

History[edit]

The Clapham Feelers was founded in 2015 by Trent Sparks and started as six friends meeting up in the park to play tag rugby. This has grown to two weekly training sessions with 50+ people attending in 2022, now playing touch rugby, with training sessions twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday).^[2]

The idea for starting the club was to provide a safe space for LGBT+ individuals to play sport as LGBT+ players can often encounter a hostile environment when participating within non-inclusive teams.^[3]

In 2022 the Clapham Feelers marched in Pride in London for the first time.

Composition[edit]

The Clapham Feelers was founded as an LGBT+ team and the majority of club's players are mostly gay and bisexual, however the club is open for anyone to join.

Current sporting position[edit]

In 2022, the Clapham Feelers competed in the following tournaments:

• Touch my Brum: Clapham Feelers Diamonds (1st place); Clapham Feelers Emeralds (joint 3rd place).
• Pride in Touch: Clapham Feelers Diamonds (1st place); Clapham Feelers Emeralds (2nd place).^[4]
• International Gay Rugby (IGR) Touch League: Clapham Feelers Emeralds (1st place); Clapham Feelers Diamonds (2nd place). This tournament included: the Berkshire Unicorns, Brighton & Hove Sea Serpents, The London Stags and Reading Renegades.
• O2 in2touch league: Competed in the early-spring, spring, summer and late-summer leagues.

Logo, kit, and sponsorship[edit]

The Clapham Feelers logo is a two hands holding a rugby ball (pictured above) and is a registered Trade Mark^[5] with the UK's Intellectual Property Office.

For kit, the 2022/2023 jerseys for the Feelers teams are:

• Diamonds – White (with blue/teal and pink hexagons)
• Emeralds – Blue/Teal (with white and pink hexagons)
• Rubies – Pink (with white and blue/teal hexagons)
• Social team – Grey (with white and pink hexagons)

As of July 2022, the Clapham Feelers are sponsored by, amongst others:

• Btomorrow Ventures^[6]
• The Saxon, pub in Clapham (who sponsor the kit)
• Blockhead^[7]

Memberships and affiliations[edit]

Full member of the England Touch Association

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Add External links

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