Bristol Bisons RFC is an inclusive English rugby union club based in Bristol. Founded in 2005 as the south west’s first inclusive rugby team, the Bisons have welcomed players (and supporters) of all abilities, backgrounds and sexualities from Bristol, Somerset, South Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas since that time.
Club history
The Bristol Bisons RFC (Bisons) were established in 2005, following a visit to the Bingham Cup gay rugby tournament in the summer of 2004 in London. The founders felt that it would be good to spread the messages of an inclusive rugby team in the south west.
Training for the newly formed club started early in 2005 with its first match seeing the Bisons vs. a Barbarians side of players from Manchester and Bristol. By 2009, following a quiet spell, it was decided to relaunch the club with new kit and promotional material.
The club has had an active presence at Bristol Pride since 2010 and in July 2011, the team were chosen as hosts for the Union Cup 2013 European Gayrugby tournament, welcoming over 20 clubs to Bristol.
In 2023, after finishing top of the UK IGR Southern Development League, the Bisons were named IGR Southern Development League Champions, going on to become IGR UK Development League Champions.
In 2024, the Bisons finished top of the UK IGR South-West League, and were also named winners of the UK Championship Plate. The Bisons also entered into a new strategic partnership with Bristol Bears RFC as part of the Bears commitment to diversity and inclusivity. The club will look to collaborate together on several community initiatives.
The team also attended the 2024 Bingham Cup in Rome Italy, taking two teams to the tournament, the first time in its history. Both teams finished third in their respective tiers (Hoagland Cup and Gladiator Cup), finishing 17th overall, resulting in the Bisons best-ever Bingham placing.
In 2025, the Bisons were winners of the IGR's UK Challenger Shield and attended the Union Cup in Oslo, Norway, finishing in the top 8 in Europe.
Since June 2025, the Bisons have been hosted by and train every Monday and Thursday between 7-9pm at Cleve RFC.
As of 2025, the club now has nearly 100 active players and supporters, with current sponsorship and support from Bristol Beer Factory, Old Castle Green, Hawkland Construction, Bristol Bear Bar and the Queenshilling nightclub.
Bristol Bisons RFC vs. Reading Renegades RFC Nov 2022
Tournaments
The following is a list of tournaments held by or attended by the team.
Tournaments hosted
2006 – Spring – Rugby Tournament, Bristol
2006 – Rugby 7's tournament at Bristol Gay Mardi Gras
2007 – Spring – Rugby Tournament, Bristol
2013 – Union Cup – Rugby Tournament, Bristol
Tournaments attended
Union Cup
2005 Montpellier, France, finished in seventh place
2018 Amsterdam, Netherlands, lost in the final of the Hoagland Bowl to Caledonian Thebans RFC, coming in 10th overall in Tier 2
2024 Rome, Italy. The Bisons too two teams to the tournament, the first time in its history. Both teams finished third in their respective tiers (Hoagland Cup and Gladiator Cup), finishing 17th overall, resulting in the Bisons best-ever Bingham placing.
