Plans are afoot to form a new rugby club in Brighton and Hove to give gay and bisexual men the opportunity to play the sport in a more friendly and relaxed atmosphere.

A meeting has been planned and organised at the Camelford Arms on November 4 at 7:30 pm, by Ian Chaplin, Byron Todd and Alan Ferry, who have been committee members, and players for rugby clubs elsewhere.

They already have indications from 15 men with experience of the sport of a willingness to get involved and are being supported in this by International Gay Rugby (IGR), the UK-based charity and by other UK-based inclusive rugby clubs.

The intention is that the club will be in a position to play in the Sussex III league in the 2016-17 season, and, hopefully before this, to have friendly matches both locally and against other member clubs of IGR.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Kings Cross Steelers RFC, the world’s first inclusive rugby club. Now there are over 60 worldwide, including the two newest clubs formed during the 2015 Rugby World Cup, in Belfast and Glasgow.

A spokesperson for the group, said: “Though public opinion has changed dramatically since 1996, gay and bisexual men sometimes need a gay social arena, for example, rugby clubs are unlikely to go to gay bars or nightclubs, which gives a gay player the option of socialising with their rugby or their gay friends, but not both. An inclusive rugby club allows both.”

For more information telephone Ian Chaplin: 07890 949325

Or email Byron Todd: bandhseaserpents@hotmail.com