A Brighton rugby club is celebrating a decade of encouraging inclusive sport, creating a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
Brighton and Hove Sea Serpents RFC were founded in 2015 by three friends, who felt that LGBTQ+ people needed an inclusive environment where anybody could take part in the sport.
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The creation of the team marked the South’s first gay inclusive rugby team.
The team welcomes players of all abilities, gender identity, sexual orientation and background (Image: Sean Black)
Fast forward to 2025, the club has been celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary, reflecting on a decade in the community and encouraging others to have a go.
Vice chairman of the club, Ricky Braiden explained: “Rugby can be seen as quite a toxic masculine sport, which is predominately male-heavy.
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“Sea Serpents is about inclusion, creating a space which is safe for someone regardless of gender. We want to attract people who want to be involved in the sport but may struggle with other barriers.”
2025 marked 10 years of the team which was the South’s first gay inclusive rugby team (Image: Sean Black)
The club welcomes anybody no matter their experience and ability, as well as background, gender identity or sexual orientation.
To help encourage new players, the team runs a ‘Try Rugby’ programme, which invites people of all abilities to give the sport a go and develop their skills.
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The club welcomes new inductions in January and September.
Ricky said: “The programme spurs from the original foundation of the club of getting people into sport. People who might not be comfortable in those kind of environments.
“It’s an eight-week programme with 16 sessions which builds people with all the foundations needed for rugby.”
To celebrate completing the programme, the club hosts a graduation event where players have their first opportunity to play a real game, alongside other more experienced members of the team.
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In December, Try Rugby graduates celebrated completing the programme with a special event at the club (Image: Sean Black)
On December 6, the team held their latest graduation game where Ricky said everyone had an “amazing time”, pushing players “out of their comfort zone”.
The event included a match, as well as a ceremony in the clubhouse to celebrate all those who took part in the programme.
Serpents player, Alex, took part in the programme in September 2024 and described the experience as “incredible”.
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They said: “As a trans person who used to play a lot of team sports as a child and teenager but had to stop when I could no longer play in a team that reflected my gender, finding Try Rugby and The Serpents has been incredible for both my mental and physical health.”
The Try Rugby programme will begin again in January (Image: Sean Black)
Ricky added: “You get to see people grow as they go through the programme which is really nice. It’s changed people.
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“They turn up lacking confidence and fearful, and we develop them. It’s a neutral environment and slow paced.”
The ‘Try Rugby’ programme begins again in January and those wishing to take part or find out more, can see further details on the Sea Serpents website and social media pages.