Founded in 2018 by a handful of enthusiastic players, the Preston Typhoons Rugby Football Club has grown into the city’s sole LGBTQ+ rugby outlet. Over eight years the side has evolved from a modest training group into a vibrant community hub that now fields both a full-contact union squad and a non-contact touch team. The club’s rapid expansion coincides with a broader cultural shift toward acceptance, yet the members still encounter lingering prejudice and a shifting legal landscape that threatens inclusive sport.
According to club communications officer Joanne Lloyd, the team now enjoys unprecedented visibility. “We compete in the International Gay Rugby league, travelling to face other inclusive clubs across the country,” she explains. The club operates two distinct branches: the traditional Rugby Union team, which is open to male-identified players, and the Touch Rugby side, which is deliberately all-inclusive regardless of age, size, gender or prior experience. This dual-format approach allows the Typhoons to cater to a wide spectrum of participants while preserving a competitive edge for those seeking the full-contact version of the game.
Structure and participation: union versus touch
The union squad meets on Thursday evenings at the Preston Grasshoppers ground, offering a high-intensity, full-contact experience for those comfortable with the physical demands of traditional rugby. Meanwhile, the touch team gathers on Monday nights, presenting a fast-paced, low-impact version that welcomes anyone who simply wants to handle a ball and enjoy team camaraderie. By separating the formats, the Typhoons can uphold the integrity of each discipline while ensuring that newcomers—especially queer and transgender athletes—feel safe to try the sport without fear of exclusion.
Community support and wellbeing initiatives
Beyond the pitch, the club functions as a social sanctuary. Members often cite the Typhoons as a lifeline, particularly those who have faced discrimination in school or other sports settings. The organisation provides mental-health first aiders, runs informal socials, and maintains a confidential welfare hotline. Lawrence Howard, a founding member, notes that while he never personally experienced homophobia on the field, “the perception that it could happen is enough to deter many queer athletes.” The club therefore emphasizes a safe space ethos, ensuring that both cis and trans members receive the emotional and practical support they need.
Legal backdrop and its impact on inclusive teams
Recent judicial decisions have complicated the Typhoons’ inclusive mission. In April 2025, the UK Supreme Court ruled that legal gender for equality purposes must align with the sex recorded at birth. Subsequent guidance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission suggested that transgender women should be directed to male-designated facilities, while transgender men could be barred from gendered spaces altogether. For community clubs, this creates a paradox: a trans-inclusive men’s team would be forced to admit women, and a women’s team would have to exclude transgender men, undermining the very principle of inclusion the Typhoons champion. Joanne Lloyd acknowledges the difficulty, stating that the club has long offered separate spaces for trans members, but the new legal climate forces a reevaluation of those practices.
Future outlook: Pride 2026 and beyond
Undeterred, the Typhoons are gearing up for their next major showcase at Preston Pride 2026. Having participated in larger regional pride events, the club sees the local celebration as an opportunity to attract fresh talent and highlight the importance of everyday inclusivity—not just during high-visibility festivals. “Smaller prides are just as vital,” Joanne stresses, noting that the community’s sustained presence throughout the year reinforces the club’s year-round accessibility. The team invites anyone interested to drop in at any time, emphasizing that the club’s doors remain open beyond the traditional pride season.
Training sessions continue twice weekly at the Grasshoppers facilities—Touch on Mondays at 7 p.m. and Union on Thursdays at 8 p.m.—and the club’s website offers further details on how to join. As membership numbers surge and legal challenges loom, the Preston Typhoons exemplify how sport can serve both as competition and as a catalyst for social change.
