Why Is Gay Rugby SO Popular in the UK? (And Where Is Gay Rugby League?) | Ep 64

Why is gay rugby so popular in the UK? And if rugby union has built a thriving LGBTQ+ community, why are there no grassroots gay rugby league clubs?We sat down with Johnathan Alexander Zemlik at the Bingham Cup 2026 in Brisbane. A Kings Cross Steelers player who also plays rugby union and rugby league for multiple clubs, Johnathan brings a unique perspective to the question of why gay rugby has exploded in popularity across the UK - while gay rugby league clubs remain conspicuously absent.Jonathan reckons there are around 32 gay rugby teams in the UK. So what's behind the growth? It's about more than rugby. It's about finding your people, building friendships outside the usual gay nightlife scene, getting competitive, and having a place where you can show up as yourself.We also break down the differences between rugby union and rugby league, from 15 players versus 13 to scrums, lineouts and the six-tackle rule. Jonathan explains how rugby league's working-class roots shaped its history, why he thinks the sport has an inclusion problem, and what it could learn from the gay rugby community.Plus, we get into homophobia on the pitch, the Kings Cross Steelers' culture, a Guinness World Record rugby match that raised £125,000 for charity, and the fight to make rugby league more welcoming to LGBTQ+ players. Jonathan also shares his hopes for an inclusive rugby league team at Keighley Cougars.Could the next chapter of gay rugby be in rugby league?Subscribe to the Gay Rugby Podcast for more stories from the global LGBTQ+ rugby community, inclusive sport, and the people changing the game from the inside.