Alphas seek new recruits

One of Scotland’s fledgling inclusive rugby clubs are striving to spend the summer welcoming new players to their ranks. The Glasgow Alphas are mounting a rugby boot-camp and playing a key role too in a festival, which aims to increase the visibility and participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people (LGBTI) in Scottish sport.Glasgow Alphas only launched in October 2015 and have about 35 playing members. Chair Steve o’Brien says their participation in the LEAP Sports Festival and in offering eight weeks of rugby boot-camp are integral to their determination to increase their playing numbers and thus play more friendly fixtures in the forthcoming season.”Our main audience is the LBGTI community in Glasgow and the west.  We are set up as a LGBTI inclusive team but we also welcome straight players wanting to play in an inclusive environment.  Our whole basis is to provide a safe and welcoming space for people to get involved in sport.”He adds: “Some people may have had issues around sport in the past.  Maybe they’ve thought they would not be good enough to play a sport, but because we’re a new team and we welcome complete beginners it’s worth coming along and giving it a go.”The first boot camp was staged last Wednesday (7 June) and some 13 new recruits attended at the session at Whitecraigs RFC in Newton Mearns.The boot-camp continues weekly from tomorrow (Wednesday 14 June) from 7-9pm and every Wednesday thereafter until 26 July with a modest£5 charge per session to cover costs, although the session tomorrow is free as part of the LEAP Sports Festival.Steve notes: “The boot-camp is run by UKCC accredited coaches who will give you all the skills you need to be a well-rounded rugby starter.”For further information on, or to register for, the boot-camp, please email [email protected].