East London RFC’s Vixens ladies waved the flag for inclusivity in rugby when they welcomed the teams on to the pitch ahead of the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby match between Harlequins Women and Sale Sharks Women on Sunday (4 Feb).

The game at Twickenham Stoop formed part of Harlequins' annual Pride matches taking place in LGBTQ+ History Month and celebrating the queer community's achievements in and contributions to sport, writes Lyssa Barber.

The Vixens squad, sporting their bright orange second kit with a Pride flag featured on the left sleeve, formed the guard of honour for the players as they ran out, watched by a crowd with a sea of Pride progress flags and glittery rainbow-painted faces. The match was also broadcast live on television by the TNT Sports channel.

The Vixens were invited to the match by Quins Pride, the country's only LGBTQ+ rugby supporters' club. Their day involved a trip to the world-famous Cabbage Patch pub in Twickenham before heading over to the Stoop and a warm welcome in the 1866 Lounge where they watched a convincing 53-12 win for the home side, including four tries from England Red Rose player Ellie Kildunne.

East London’s women’s rugby officer Kat Salthouse, who won the diversity and inclusion award in England Rugby’s national volunteer of the year awards 2021, said: “The Pride matches are a fantastic example of inclusivity for the many young people in attendance, despite the Rugby Football Union’s ongoing restrictions against trans players. Quins Pride was founded and is led by Emily Hamilton, a trans woman, and the Vixens count amongst our number a trans member who cannot play alongside her team-mates. We remain hopeful that this will change.”

Emily Hamilton posted on Facebook: “Quins is still the only club to have a women’s pride match and it was lovely to be joined by our friends the East London Vixens.”