New inclusive rugby club is established in Inverness
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A new rugby club has been launched in the Highland with the formation of the Inverness Picts.
The inclusive club are in the very early stages of development, and are currently limited by Scottish government restrictions to what they can do.
However, they will become the most northerly inclusive outfit in the UK, and the fifth such rugby club in Scotland joining the Caledonian Thebans, Glasgow Alphas, Dunfermline Knights and Aberdeen Taexali.
Inclusive clubs promote sport in particular for the LGBT community, but are open to everyone – regardless of sexual orientation, rugby ability or any other factor.
The Picts will be registered with International Gay Rugby and take part in IGR-affiliated competitions which could see them travel all over the country, and possibly even further afield.
Further down the line, there is the potential to enter the Scottish Rugby club pyramid system too.
Aberdeen Taexali were set to become the first inclusive club to play senior club rugby in the 2020/21 season before it was cancelled, as they were due to enter the restructured Caledonia North Three competition.
There, they would have faced the likes of Inverness Craig Dunain and the newly added third team at Highland, who could all also be joined by a second side from Ross Sutherland in the coming seasons.
The Caledonian Thebans were also set to compete in the East Reserve Team Competition Four before 2020/21 was called off.
