RUGBY IN EAST LONDON
Rugby is for
everyone.
Especially you.
Two extraordinary clubs call Memorial Park home — the Kings Cross Steelers, the world's first gay and inclusive rugby club, and East London RFC, whose Vixens women's team are changing what rugby looks like in East London. All abilities. All identities. No experience needed.
Come down and try it
No kit needed · no experience needed · just turn up
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Two inclusive clubs, one ground
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Women's, men's & mixed teams
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Free beginner programme
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5 mins from West Ham station
The clubs
Two clubs. One community.
Both clubs train at Memorial Park, West Ham. We share the same values, and operate a joint beginner programme. Whichever feels like home, you'll find the same welcome.
🏳️🌈 World's first gay & inclusive rugby club
Kings Cross Steelers
Founded in a North London pub in 1995 by six friends with a vision — a rugby club where gay and bisexual men could play the game they love, free from the prejudice that had pushed so many of them out of sport. Three decades later the Steelers have four playing squads, 250+ active players, and are reigning World and European International Gay Rugby champions. Straight allies are just as welcome as LGBTQ+ members. If rugby is for everyone, it starts here.
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Teams
1st XV (London 3 Essex) · 2nd, 3rd & Development XVs
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Beginners
12-week Pathway to Rugby programme — no experience needed
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Training days
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:00–8:30pm
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Ground
Memorial Park, 71 Holland Road, West Ham E15 3BP
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Nearest station
West Ham — 5 mins walk (Jubilee, District, H&C, c2c)
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Open to
LGBTQ+ players and straight allies of all abilities
🦊 National Rugby Awards Women's Team of the Year
East London RFC & Vixens
East London RFC runs men's teams alongside the East London Vixens — one of London's most celebrated women's clubs. The Vixens play at NC1 level, have delivered three league wins and two promotions, and have produced players who have gone on to County Championship, Premiership and international rugby. They are explicitly and actively welcoming to players of all gender identities, and their partnership with the Steelers makes Memorial Park one of the most genuinely inclusive rugby venues in the country.
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Teams
Senior women (NC1) · 3× senior men · U18 Girls · U12 Minis
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Vixens (women)
Mondays & Wednesdays, 6:45–8:30pm
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Men's squads
Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:00pm
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Ground
Memorial Park, 71 Holland Road, West Ham E15 3BP
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Open to
All abilities, all genders, all backgrounds
Women's rugby at Memorial Park
Women's rugby the way it should be.
The East London Vixens aren't just a team — they're proof that women's rugby can be competitive, inclusive, and completely its own thing. From complete beginners to players returning after years away, the Vixens build confidence and community on and off the pitch. Every shape. Every background. Every level.
2016
National Rugby Awards Women's Team of the Year
3
League wins since the club was founded in 2011
NC1
Current playing level — competitive, growing, ambitious
All
Abilities, identities and experience levels genuinely welcome
Never played before?
Pathway to Rugby — start from zero
Both clubs run a 12-week Pathway to Rugby programme for people who have never picked up a rugby ball. No fitness test. No experience. Just show up and give it a go.
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Get in touch
Drop a message to the club you're interested in, or just turn up at a training session. No one will throw you in the deep end.
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First session free
Come along and watch or join in. No kit needed beyond trainers. Get a feel for the club and the people before committing to anything.
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12-week programme
The Pathway to Rugby course builds skills progressively over 12 weeks: contact, passing, positioning and the rules at a pace that works for you.
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Play your first game
By the end of the programme you'll be ready to play. The clubs have development squads specifically for newer players taking their first steps in fixtures.
Why rugby
What the game gives you
Players who join these clubs often say they came for the rugby and stayed for the community. Here's what they mean.
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Genuine belonging
Both clubs have a culture of looking after one another. Players who felt like outsiders in other sports consistently say Memorial Park felt different from the first session.
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Fitness that's actually fun
Rugby builds strength, stamina and coordination in a way that feels purposeful — you're working hard because the team needs it, not because a machine told you to.
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Competitive rugby
Both clubs are playing at real league levels with fixtures, tournaments and travel. If you want to compete, the opportunity is there whatever your starting point.
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Start from scratch
A significant number of current players had never played before joining. The Pathway to Rugby programme is specifically designed for adults discovering the game late.
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A safe space
The Steelers were founded specifically to create a safe environment for people who had been pushed out of rugby. That ethos permeates both clubs at every level.
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Right here in East London
Five minutes from West Ham station at Memorial Park — one of the few grounds in inner East London with changing rooms, parking and a proper clubhouse on site.
Questions
Good to know before you come down
Do I need any experience to join?I join a club?
Not at all. Both clubs run a Pathway to Rugby programme — a structured 12-week introduction for complete beginners. Many current players had never played before they joined. Just turn up in comfortable clothes and trainers.
Is there a women's team?
Yes. The East London Vixens are the women's team of East London RFC. They play at NC1 level, train on Mondays and Wednesdays at Memorial Park, and are one of the most inclusive women's rugby clubs in London. All abilities welcome — experienced players and complete beginners alike. The Vixens and the Steelers also run joint try-rugby sessions together throughout the year.
I'm not LGBTQ+ — can I join the Steelers?
Absolutely. The Steelers are open to all players regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The club was founded for gay and bisexual men but has always welcomed straight allies, and inclusion has only expanded since. You'll be made welcome.
What about trans and non-binary players?
Both clubs are explicitly welcoming to trans and non-binary players and have been vocal in supporting trans inclusion in rugby at all levels. If you have questions before your first visit, reach out to either club directly — both are used to having that conversation.
Where exactly is Memorial Park and how do I get there?
Memorial Park is at 71 Holland Road, West Ham E15 3BP — a five-minute walk from West Ham station, which is served by the Jubilee, District, Hammersmith & City and c2c lines. There is an 80-space on-site car park and a bike shelter if you're not coming by tube.
What should I bring to my first session?
Just yourself and a pair of trainers — no boots, no gumshield, no kit needed for a first visit. Both clubs have changing rooms and showers on site. If you carry on, you'll gradually pick up the kit you need, and both clubs can point you towards where to get it.
Come and find your people.
Two clubs. One ground. Zero barriers to entry. Turn up to a training session, say hello and see what Memorial Park feels like. That's all it takes.