This Indigenous Gay Rugby Team Is Making History in Australia | Ep 60

The Lorikeets are Australia's indigenous gay rugby teamWe came to Brisbane for the Bingham Cup 2026 and ended up sitting down with Darren from the First Nations Lorikeets: a brand-new rugby club creating something that didn’t exist before in Australian gay rugby.The Lorikeets are an LGBTQ+ rugby team for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, built around culture, community, visibility and creating a space where players can actually feel like they belong.And Darren has a pretty powerful reason for being part of it.Years ago, he was asked to play for the Sydney Convicts but said no because he didn’t feel safe in that space. Now, 14 years later, he’s playing rugby with the Lorikeets at the Bingham Cup in Brisbane.We talk about why First Nations rugby matters, what it means to create a culturally safe space for LGBTQ+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, and why representation in gay rugby clubs has to be more than simply saying “everyone is welcome.”We also get into the Lorikeets’ first year, how the team came together from players across Australia, their connection to community, their plans for the future, and what they hope this team can mean to the next generation of queer First Nations players.Recorded in Brisbane during the Bingham Cup 2026.If you’re into gay rugby, LGBTQ+ sports, inclusive rugby, First Nations rugby, or just want to understand more about the people and stories behind the Bingham Cup, this one is worth watching.Subscribe for more conversations about gay rugby, LGBTQ+ sports, rugby culture and the people who make this community what it is.Filmed, edited and produced by Jack HigginsExecutive Producer Ozzie LunaViews and opinions in the podcast do not reflect the views and opinions of the Los Angeles Rebellion Rugby Club