Name: Andrew Bell
Nickname: Belly
Birthday: 16 August
Birthplace: Newcastle
Profession: Retail

Position: Tighthead Prop/Hooker
Joined Convicts: 2007
Other teams: The Waratahs(Newcastle), Brisbane Hustlers
Tours:Auckland 2004 (Brisbane Hustlers)

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
Body height, body height!!!.

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Pick them up from the dry cleaners, bitch.

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2008:
I know it may sound a little megalomaniac, but we’re here to win everything.

Name: Iain Jepson
Nickname: Jeppo
Birthday: 29 August
Profession: IT Management

Position: 2nd row / Lock and Team Manager
Joined Convicts: November 2005
Past Tours: Bingham Cup 2006

Favourite saying: What the F**k!!
Favourite rugby team:
Favourite board game:
Favourite drink:
Favourite pastime:

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:

Back up your mates and keep pushing forward

Favourite moment on the pitch:

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Ask my boyfriend

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006:
We’re going to be hard and fast so look out!!

Below are the results of previous Convict’s Seasons. If you can identify any errors, please don’t hestitate to contact the webmaster.

•  Convicts’ Records [pdf - 22kb]
• Match Results - 2007 [pdf - 43kb]
• Match Results - 2006 [pdf - 73kb]
• Match Results - 2005 [pdf - 49kb]
• Match Results - 2004 [pdf - 20kb]

2008 Season Reports

Player Report 17 May 2008  [pdf - 26kb]

Player Report 10 May 2008 [pdf - 26kb]

Player Report 03 May 2008 [pdf - 27kb]

Player Report 12 April 2008 [pdf - 42kb]

Player Report 05 April 2008 [pdf - 25kb]

2007 Season Reports

2007 Awards Night [pdf - 26kb]

2007 Halligan Cup Captian Report  [pdf - 107kb]

2007 Noice Cup Team Report  [pdf - 85.6kb]

Convicts Show They Have What it Takes in Rugger Bugger V [pdf - 46kb]

Player Report 15 May 2007 [pdf - 39kb]

Player Report 05 May 2007 [pdf  - 41kb]

Player Report 14 April 2007 [pdf - 26kb]

2005 Season Reports

2005 Awards Night [pdf - 23kb]

At Sydney Convicts, we are proud of our history. Although we’re only young club, we have won many accolades and competitions, including the Bingham World and Halligan Cups so please forgive the ‘brag section’ of our site.

• Player Reports

• Past Results

• Photo Gallery

2007 Club and Team Photos

Below are the PDF files of the Club, Noice Team and Halligan Team photo’s.

• Convicts 2007 Club Photo [pdf - 257kb]
• Convicts 2007 Noice Team Photo [pdf - 238kb]
• Convicts 2007 Halligan Team Photo  [pdb - 234kb]

Halligan v Lane Cove 6 May 06

Halligan v Canterbury 29 Apr 06

Jeffrey v Canterbury 29 Apr 06

Halligan v Maccabi 22 Apr 06

Jeffrey v Noice 22 Apr 06

“Sydney Convicts” Team List

This page is intended to allow us to share information and best practice to help grow the game. If you find some good info about rugby, fitness or training, send it through and we’ll ensure its included.

Player Positions

• Front Row [pdf - 653kb]
• Half Back [pdf - 312kb]
• Lock Flanker [pdf - 448kb]
• Centre, Wing & Full Back [pdf - 380kb]

Training

• Smart Rugby Booklet [pdf - 559kb]
  Australian Rugby Union published a booklet  which is designed for coaches to use, however it also outlines how best to prepare for rugby and how to ultimately reduce injuries.  Please review it and don’t hesitate to ask questions of your coach or team manager.

• Walk like a Man - A real life story about Blood, Sweat and Queers
  Walk Like A Man” is a story about challenge and adversity, brotherhood and belonging. This ninety-minute observational documentary follows two of the best gay rugby teams in the world - reigning champions, San Francisco Fog, and feisty upstarts, the Sydney Convicts as they face-off in the world’s largest amateur rugby competition, the Bingham Cup. This ultimate prize is named for 9/11 hero, Mark Bingham, a passionate gay rugger, who joined his fellow travelers and made the supreme sacrifice as they triumphed over terrorism on Flight 93. Walk Like A Man is a story of teamwork, and a drama of individuals. The individual players are very different men but each is a genuine athlete with a defiance of conventional perception, a dedication to his sport, and an unrivaled passion for life.

• Sydney Convicts Code of Conduct [pdf - 52.5kb]
  The Convicts Committee has agreed on a club ‘Code of Conduct’. This has been created to clarify the aims and mission of the Club and what constitutes behaviour consistent with these aims and mission as the club gets larger and membership more diverse.The Club’s mission is to be a competitive NSW Suburban Rugby team, while providing a welcoming, safe environment for gay men and others who share our commitment to our ethics and the development of a gay identified rugby club.We are committed to the ethics of, inclusion, mutual respect and consideration, fair and safe play on the field; and providing a harassment-free sport environment. The code is not intended to inhibit your freedom of expression or being yourself, but rather ensure that all members, supporters etc understand what the Club is about.
• Convicts Team Manager Checklist [pdf - 10.0kb] ~ Internal Use Only

Become a Supporter

Just click send to be automatically subscribed to the newsletter.

Alternatively, you can go to the Yahoo site and sign up at this address:

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/SydneyConvictsSupporters/

Our supporters

When we first started we thought that our supporters club would be our mums serving bickies at half time. Although the Sydney Convicts have only been around since 2003, we now have a supporters club of over 200 people, with numbers growing weekly.

Our supporters are the heart of our club, and we value both their commitment to our goals, and their appreciation for a great game of footy. So if you want to keep in contact, and to find out all about the times and fortunes of the boys, why not join our mailing list? We send out a mail once a month (more often during the season) with news, upcoming events and match results. So don’t miss out; put your name down and be a supporter of the Sydney Convicts.

Sydney Convicts home ground is:

Woollahra #2
End of Manion Avenue
Rose Bay

View Larger Map

Name: Ewan Samway
Nickname: Ewie
Birthday: Once Upon a Time, Long, Long Time Ago, on the 5th December
Birthplace: Sydney
Profession: Business

Position: Committee Secretary, Team Manager
Position I would never play: Any number between 4 and 15 or 1 and 3 for that matter
Joined Convicts: Co-opted by Fuzz, Feb 2004
Other teams: Under 12s Marist Brothers, Brussels Starfish, Poofta
Rugby Tours: London Bingham, 2004; Brisbane, 2004/2005; Oxford St Pub Crawl, 2005

Favourite saying: “It’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity”
Favourite rugby team: Convicts
Favourite board game: Get with the times, all my games are now on the net
Favourite drink: Vodka Martini, with an Olive
Favourite pastime: Matt

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
You can never go too low or get too drunk

Favourite moment on the pitch:
Matt’s catch, sidestep, chip-chase, left-onehanded catch over the sideline, sidestep and away…

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:
Letting anyone know how I lost my mobile phone in London

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Smile

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006:
How about Sydney Bingham Cup, 2008?

Name: Matt Vagulans
Nickname: M-Vag
Birthday: 22 February
Birthplace: Emerald City
Profession: Communicator

Position: Fullback / Outside Centre
Position I would never play: The entire forward pack is a no-go zone
Joined Convicts: In its infancy
Other teams: Straight and Bisexual. Love to go into bat for them
Tours: Bingham 04, Brisbane O4, Oxford St 04,05

Favourite saying: “One more please”
Favourite rugby team: I have a soft spot for Woollahra Colleagues
Favourite board game: Undressing the Chairman with my eyes (Corporate Edition only)
Favourite drink: Nothing beats a Hoegaarden beer
Favourite pastime: Writing about myself

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby: That Private School people are people too!
Favourite moment on the pitch: Scoring. Spookliy, this goes for off the pitch as well
The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public: Wear paisley
Easiest way to get into your pants: Sprinkle some salt and pepper in your hair
One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006: I show you our Team Manager if you show me yours?

Name: Stu Marks
Nickname: Skid
Birthday: 22 July
Birthplace: Brisbane
Profession: Finance

Position: Centre / Fullback
Position I would never play: Halfback
Joined Convicts: February ‘05
Other teams: Insead
Tours: Purchas Cup 2005

Favourite saying: “blame it on the boogie”
Favourite rugby team: France
Favourite board game: spin the bottle
Favourite drink: greenpark hotel
Favourite pastime: dirt
Favourite “Camp Classic” Song: you spin me right round baby right round like a record baby

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby: Keep your eye on the ball
The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public: Smoking
Easiest way to get into your pants: Get me drunk
One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006: What are you doing after the game?

Name: Eddie Tarau
Nickname: Foot long
Birthday: 14 September
Birthplace: Kawakawa. New Zealand
Profession: Security

Position: Inside / outside Centre
Position I would never play: Receiving end of doggie style
Joined Convicts: April ‘05
Other teams: South Sydney Kiwis, Coogee Bay Dolphins

Favourite saying: “Howzit Bro”
Favourite rugby team: The mighty All Blacks
Favourite board game: Monopoly
Favourite drink: Water
Favourite pastime: Eating

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
Don’t end up on the bottom of a ruck.

Favourite moment on the pitch:
My first and only ever chip kick. Opposition caught it in mid air and ran in for a try.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:
Too Many to say

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Have a Vagina

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006:
Do you have a hot sister?

Name: Steve Ryan
Nickname: OMG Steve Ryan
Birthday: 1 August
Birthplace: North Sydney
Profession: Admin

Position: Flanker, Front row (!)
Position I would never play: Full Back - you have to be quick and I get lonely easily…
Joined Convicts: April ‘05
Other teams: Terrey Hills and St Pius X Chatswood
Tours: Brisbane 2005 and Canberra Junior 7s 1990, 1991

Favourite saying: I met him in a bar your honour.
Favourite rugby team: NSW Waratahs
Favourite board game: Monopoly
Favourite drink: The Green Drink - it deserves the capitals…
Favourite pastime: Sleeping. Yes, the REAL sleeping.

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
BODYHEIGHT!

Favourite moment on the pitch:
The Brisbane Black Eye… (deserves capitals also) which led to a favourite moment OFF the pitch.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:
Turned down a Drag Queen’s advances whilst she was on stage holding a microphone…

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Take them off me.

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006:
I fuck on the first date…

Name: Dave Hunter
Nickname:
Birthday: 1 August
Birthplace: Outer reaches of Kazakhstan.
Profession: Biscuit Designer

Position: Breakaway
Position I would never play: Deputy assistant manager
Joined Convicts: To release myself.
Other teams: Are there any other teams that would take me?
Tours: Numerous amongst my extensive resume list.

Favourite saying: Freak that bitch out!!!!!!!!!!!!
Favourite rugby team: The Reds
Favourite board game: Table tennis
Favourite drink: Yes please.
Favourite pastime: Electric boogaloo

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
That rugby is the winner in the end, as long as you collect the trophy.

Favourite moment on the pitch:
Watching halfbacks get belted.

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:
Watch this space.

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Wait for me to get out of them.

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2006:
Watch out for Nobez, The angriest midget alive. He was the only oompa loompa not allowed to eat the sugar.

Name: Steve Thorne
Nickname: Noddy
Birthday: 12 August
Birthplace: Sydney
Profession: Printer

Position: Number 8
Position I would never play: Hooker
Joined Convicts: February ‘04
Other teams: Forest, Newport
Tours: Bingham 04&06, Brisbane O4, Kiama 7s

Favourite saying: “I don’t have a fat ass, it’s my wallet”
Favourite rugby team: Waratahs
Favourite board game: Risk
Favourite drink: Tea
Favourite pastime: Food!!!!!

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby: that Fuzz is a far greater danger than the opposition and Greg Holmes is the sexiest man in the universe!
Favourite moment on the pitch: setting up Charlie to score in brisbane
The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public: called police for stolen car… I was on the wrong level.
Easiest way to get into your pants: Ask my hubby
One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2008: Good Luck!

Name: Simon Thompson
Nickname: ST, Thommo
Birthday: 26 December
Birthplace: Tamworth (Yee Haw)
Profession: Treasury Manager

Position: Lock / Centres / Wing
Position I would never play: Hooker
Joined Convicts: November ‘03
Other teams: Sydney Uni, Colleagues Blue, Sydney Kangaroos
Tours: Sydney Uni USA 1999, Bingham London 2004, QLD 2004 & 2005 Bingham NY 2006

Favourite saying: “Go Hard Go Early”
Favourite rugby team: Waratahs
Favourite board game: Pictionary
Favourite drink: Candian Club & Coke
Favourite pastime: Good food, good wine, good mates

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
He who hesitates loses

Favourite moment on the pitch:
Victory in first ever game as Sydney Convicts

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:
Let an opponent step me 3 times in one game for 3 tries

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Undo my belt

Name: Angus Donald
Nickname: Gus
Birthday: 7th May
Birthplace: Sydney
Profession: Architect

Position: Hooker/Flanker
Position I would never play: Coach
Joined Convicts: January ‘04
Other teams: Sydney Grammar, Sydney Grammar Old Boys, Colleagues
Tours: New Zealand 1991, England 1993, Armidale 1994, Bingham (London) 2004, Brisbane 2004 & 2005,  Bingham (New York) 06

Favourite saying: “you go girlfriend”, “keep your wig on” “Whatever works”
Favourite rugby team: Sydney Convicts
Favourite board game: twister - but that is not really a board game
Favourite drink: Beer
Favourite pastime: Selma Box

Most important thing I’ve learnt in Rugby:
Believe and trust in yourself

Favourite moment on the pitch:
Stu Marks renacting my “solo” try against Mosman - hysterical!

The dumbest thing I’ve ever done in public:
Did you see what I wore to mardi gras?

Easiest way to get into your pants:
Show me your hairy chest or Ask Krumpie.

One thing you’d like to say to our opponents for Bingham Cup 2008:
What are you doing after the match?

Sydney Convicts Team Profiles

2008 Players

• Andrew Bell
• Angus Donald
• Anthony Hennessy
• Charlie Winn
• Iain Jepson
• James Saunders
• Jason Brown
• Matt Vagulans
• Pierce Young
• Sam Minter
• Shame Mathews
• Simon Thompson
• Steve Thorne

Previous Team and Positions

Sydney Convcits 2006

Forwards - Front Row

Craig Dangar

Sean Smith

Angus Donald

Forwards - Locks

Simon Thompson

Forwards - Back Row

Sam Minter

Steve Thorne

Dave Hunter

Steve Ryan

Halves

Mike Langley

Backs - Inside

Brian Judd

Eddie Tarau

Backs - Outside

Stu Marks

Matt Vagulans

Jimmy McCowen

Scott Lefcourt

Team Management

Rob Rosenberg (Coach)

Ewan Samway

About the Club

The Sydney Convicts are Australia’s first gay Rugby Union team. The team was founded in 2004 with the aim of representing Sydney in the World Cup of gay Rugby, the Mark Bingham Cup, in which we achieved a rank of third in the world. Under the banner of Woollahra Colleagues RFC, the Convicts proved their ability to hold their own in mainstream competition by winning (undefeated) the 2005 Halligan Cup in the Sydney Suburban Rugby Union. The Convicts subsequently travelled to New York in 2006 to contest the third Bingham Cup, winning both the Cup and Plate competitions. The Convicts are committed to building a competitive, social and diverse club and welcome players regardless of their sexual orientation, ethnicity, age or playing experience.

Convicts Annual Raffle Draw:

1st Prize - 5 nights accommodation in luxury 2 bedroom penthouse at “Horizons At Peregian, Noosa” - Ticket Number 9091 - Trevor Chard
2nd Prize - $500 gift voucher to Salt Clinic  - Ticket Number 10152 - Allan Seagrott 
3rd Prize - 1 year subsription to DNA Magazine - Ticket Number 9119 - Mark
4th Prize - 1 year subscription to DNA Magazine - Ticket Number 7478 - Rob Cockshott

Major Sponsor

Tier 1 Sponsors

Tier 2 Sponsors

Special Thanks to:

Media Partners

Free script from Rainbow Arch

Australian Rugby

ASDF

Gay Rugby Clubs and Organisations

IGRAB

Mark Bingham Cup homepage

Australasia

Brisbane Hustlers

Ponsonby Heroes

United States

New York - Gotham Knights

San Francisco Fog

United Kingdom

London Kings Cross Steelers

Other Gay Sporting Organisations

Team Sydney

Sydney Stingers Waterpolo

Sydney Spectres Basketball

Key Contacts

president@sydneyconvicts.org Andrew (Fuzz) Purchas
sponsorship@sydneyconvicts.org Duncan McGregor
recruitment@sydneyconvicts.org Iain Jepson
manager@sydneyconvicts.org John Williams
pr@sydneyconvicts.org Iain Jepsen
coach@sydneyconvicts.org TBC – currently Charlie Winn
social@sydneyconvicts.org Angus Donald
bingham@sydneyconvicts.org  Bingham Cup 2008 Tour Manager (Steve Evans)

The Sydney Convicts was formed with two broad goals in mind -

1. To provide a forum for gay men to play competitive rugby in an accepting and supportive environment, and

2. To represent Sydney in the local rugby competition, and in tours and tournaments in Australia and abroad.

The unofficial goals of the Convicts are to present an alternative image of gay men to both the mainstream and the gay community, and make football accessible to those who would otherwise be discouraged from playing rugby by perceived prejudice in the mainstream football community.

History

The Convicts arrived with a bang on the Sydney suburban rugby scene, bucking the trend for most fledgling gay clubs by winning our first game against fancied opposition from Woollahra Colleagues, and then winning our first away game against the Campbelltown Harlequins.On 1 May, 2004, the Convicts made Australian rugby history by hosting the first contest of the Purchas Cup (named after the Convicts’ founder, Andrew “Fuzz” Purchas). The Convicts defeated the Brisbane Hustlers 27-3 in front of an audience of over 300 at Blue Giant Park, Rose Bay.

The Convicts then travelled to London to compete in the second Mark Bingham Cup. We were definitely the dark horse of the tournament, having not previously played any of the other participants. The Convicts made a good showing, defeating London, Seattle and Edinburgh in pool matches to progress to the quarter-finals. The Convicts then defeated the Los Angeles Rebellion to progress to the semis, only to narrowly lose to San Francisco Fog (the eventual winners) 6 points to 3.

Since returning from London, the Convicts joined forces with Woollahra Colleagues in winning the 2004 Halligan Cup undefeated for the entire season.

2005 saw the Convicts compete again in the Halligan Cup, this time as a team in their own right. Despite suffering some losses during the season due to injury, the Convicts proved once again that they can mix it with mainstream competition, winning the competition undefeated, and securing the Halligan Cup for Woollahra Colleagues for the second consecutive year. We finished the season by hosting the Brisbane Hustlers for the return match of the Purchas Cup (named after the founder of the Convicts, Andrew “Fuzz” Purchas), emerging victorious for the fourth time.

Office Bearers

The current Sydney Convicts Rugby Club Office Bearers for 2007:

President: Andrew (Fuzz) Purchas
Vice President: Charlie Winn
Secretary: John Williams
Treasurer: Pierce Young
Sponsorship: Duncan McGregor
Recruitment: Lafitani (Laf) Sotiriou
Social Secretary: Angus (Gus) Donald
Media & PR: TBC
Committee Members: Simon Thompson and Stuart Marks
Coach: TBC

Below are the words to the Convicts Team Song:

We are those magnificent men
from the Convicts we are
Playing our rugby
and drinking our beer

They are really good men
those magnificent men

Convicts 1 Def Waverly 36 - 10

Try’s
Pierce - 1,  Sam Chesterman - 1, James Saunders - 1, Luke Carpenter - 1, Mike Langley - 2

Goals
Mike Langley - 3

Best and Fairest
Dave Whittaker 1, Levi Kalepo 2, Ben Clay 3

Convicts II Def Balmain 19-17

Try’s
Deano 1, Zane - 1

Goals
Deano 1