Twenty-five years. One hell of a party.

In August, Gotham Knights RFC flew to Brisbane for the Bingham Cup — the world championship of gay and inclusive rugby — and came home with the Bingham Shield, beating international sides in our division to take the title. A club that started in 2001 as a handful of gay men who wanted to play a sport that didn't want them just won on the biggest stage the game has.

We're not done celebrating. And we'd like you to help us keep the momentum going.

Why a rugby team does a drag show

Because it's who we are. Gotham was built on the idea that you can be tough, queer, and joyful all at once — that the guy who flattens you in a tackle on Saturday can lip-sync for his life on Wednesday. The Drag Show is our biggest fundraiser of the year, but it's also the purest expression of the club: brotherhood, glitter, and zero apologies.

This year we're celebrating 25 years of Gotham with the return of Brandy Manhattan to our stage, Maya Butthurtz as MC, and a special appearance from Chelsea Cloisters — plus the players you know, in heels you didn't know they owned.

What your money does

Most rugby clubs go dark in the winter. Gotham doesn't. We're one of the few teams in the city that keeps practicing when it's freezing — indoors, twice a week — and it's become our biggest season for growth. It's when new players find us, when rookies become starters, and when the guys who've never touched a ball learn what a ruck is. That winter season is where the Shield was really won.

None of that is free. Your donation covers:

Field time — outdoor permits in season, indoor space all winter
Gear — tackle pads, cones, balls, the stuff that takes a beating
Getting to the pitch — so that when NorAm 2027 comes around in New Orleans, every player who earned a spot can go, not just the ones who can afford the flight

Every dollar raised here goes straight to keeping a queer rugby club alive in New York City.

Be in the room — or be part of it from anywhere

Tickets for the show are available on Eventbrite. If you can't make it on November 18, this page is the best way to support the club directly. Corporate and table sponsorships are also available — reach out through www.gotham.rugby.

Twenty-five years ago, a few gay guys decided rugby was theirs too. Help us make sure the next 25 are just as loud.

Come for the queens. Stay for the brotherhood. ❤️

Gotham Drag Show 2026