My Name is Craig Hoare and I play for Northampton Outlaws RFC .

Founded in 2012, we were the first 'inclusive rugby' club in the East Midlands, based in Northampton. We play in a dedicated league formed by International Gay Rugby (IGR), who host the national and international cup competitions including Bingham Cup and Union Cup. Locally, we play in a merit league and play regular friendlies with teams from around the Midlands.

As a team, we are not only inclusive to the LGBTQ+ community and our allies, but also to players of all abilities. This can be from having no experience at all and you want to meet new people and try a new sport, to well seasoned veterans looking to dust off their boots and get back into the game.

At the end of April we will be competing in the Union Cup, which is being held in Birmingham. The Union Cup is a biennial European tournament of IGR International Gay Rugby. The tournament offers the opportunity for players to meet and connect with others in the LQBTQ+ community and is often for new players the first time they have competed in a sporting tournament, helping them to build confidence and self worth.

The week before the tournament I will be running the London Marathon and raising money for the club to provide support to players that need it to attend the tournament, as well as helping to provide equipment and playing kit.

I would be grateful for any support that you can offer in sponsorship.