History

The Charlotte Royals were founded in 2004 by a group of men who felt that the community lacked a gay rugby team.  The team formed after members were invited to watch a scrimmage between the Atlanta Bucks and the Raleigh Kodiaks, and believed that this could happen in the Queen City.  Rugby was not very popular and widely known in the South, however, the members saw that the gay community was embracing the sport and decided to form the team.  The team at that time was small but determined.  They learned the basics by joining practices with the Charlotte Mayhem and the Raleigh Kodiaks.  From there, they gained local support and after a few years the team started to get a lot of buzz and the local gay community was showing more interest in the sport of rugby.

Today, we have over 20 players and a growing auxiliary membership (supporters closely affiliated with the team that pay dues) along with countless supporters from around the country.  Additionally, we seek to break down perceptions of masculinity within the gay and straight communities by demonstrating the legitimacy of a gay men’s rugby team.

As a non-profit organization (501c3), the Charlotte Royals are affiliated with both the North Carolina Rugby Union (NCRU) and the International Gay Rugby Association and Board (IGRAB).