Welcome
Fàilte gu Dùn Èideann! This year we will host the Thebans Clinic in Inverleith Park, an area rich with rugby history. You’ll be playing just over the wall from the site of the first international rugby union match (between Scotland and England, with Scotland winning) and the second Women’s World Cup final (between the USA and England, with England winning).
More than that, it’s a homecoming of sorts for the Thebans. 20 years ago, a small group of gay and bisexual men came together to form a team, turning up at Inverleith Park each week to train together. Back then we didn’t even have space in the park – we were just making do with star jumps on the tarmac path. Now, two decades later, the Thebans are a club with four teams, including Womens+ and Touch Rugby. We’re also back in Inverleith Park hosting our biggest and most inclusive Clinic ever – with over 500 players, coaches, and supporters joining us to train across four pitches running Union and Touch games, and socialising in our largest ever Players’ Village.
We are proud to be able to say that we are the biggest annual amateur rugby event in the WORLD.
First of all, a massive thank you to our primary sponsors, Total Control Security, their support has made this event possible.
As always, your every need will be catered for, with hot and cold food and drinks, refreshing alcoholic beverages, and amazing entertainment available throughout the weekend. We’ll have on-site sports massage, physio, and first aid provision available too.
Clinic remains a development-focussed event; we want everyone to enjoy the Clinic and learn something new so we’re putting in extra effort to make sure everyone can get the most out of the Training Day with more stations, more coaches, and more flexibility to suit your experience level.
On Tournament Day we will again have two tiers for our Union Rugby games, as well as the addition this year of Touch Rugby, featuring our new Touch team ‘Midas’. We have made sure that everyone can get the most out of all their games, with more competitive games for those with more experience, and more development-focussed games for newer players.
Team Liaison Officers are back! You will each get assigned a lovely Theban to answer your questions or queries and if you’re coming as an unaffiliated player we’ll make sure you’re well looked after too.
Our usual Welcome and Closing Parties — as well as the unmissable and infamous Kangaroo Court — provide us with social events to get to know each other, and with teams attending from across the UK & Europe there will be plenty of socialising to be done.
During the day our Players’ Village will provide the backdrop for additional team socials, a Boat Race, our raffle draw, and entertainment from local drag acts and a DJ.
We’re delighted you can join us in Edinburgh – we hope you’ll develop your rugby skills, enjoy the games, and spend time with friends old and new!
