one team to the next popping the ball up for the next player. This exercise is repeated with variations e.g. placing the ball on the ground to practice picking up the ball without knocking it forward and to practice placing the ball without it rolling.
6. Directional sprints - players sprint diagonally from cone to cone changing direction and finally running backwards from the last cone. This practices accelerating off different feet.
7. Players form small groups of about 8 with one in the middle. The player in the middle receives quick passes from the players surrounding him -the passes should come from different directions with the passer calling the name of the man in the middle each time — this helps to improve reaction time and encourages players to call and communicate with each other.
8, Relay sprints - players find a partner and each group of 2 stands on a corner of the pitch with two pairs standing on the half way line. Each pair races against each other and sprints either the width or half the length of the pitch tagging the next man until each player has completed two laps of the pitch.
9. Warm down jog and stretching. ® www.joshandpecs.com

in mind, why have a gay team at all? "Some of the members may join to prove a point, but mainly it is because they prefer to interact on a similar level," explains Mark. "Who wants to be dragged to lap dancing clubs to discuss women's tits when you are not even that way inclined?"
When it comes to physical fitness levels, rugby can be one of the most demanding sports around. In an average game a player can run over four thousand metres and there can be between twenty-five and forty scrums. Endurance is therefore at the top of the fitness agenda, but needless to say it also requires high levels of speed (usually from a standing start), strength, power and agility. Training is therefore of the essence. The Steelers train twice a week, both Monday and Tuesday evenings and throughout a lot of the year, May being the only full month off. Monday is given over to routines and exercises and improving general fitness levels, whereas Wednesday is for tactical studies and game practice.
Mark points out that they are currently encouraging all people to come down and have a go (if they think they're hard enough). They already have a second team that is out there playing "friendlies" against the likes of the fire brigade. If you are not really into playing the sport then you can just join as a spectator member and come down and cheer. If the social side is anything to go by you will have a wild time and just think of the Gay Rugby world cup looming. You may not go to Salvation, but you will most definitely be in Heaven.

Contact them on: 01830 520 900 or visit their website at www.kjfsfc.com

A typical Monday training session is as follows:

1. Warm up jog around the rugby pitches (about 10 mins) followed by stretching.
2. Plyometric exercises: slow steps with one knee almost touching the ground each time, jumps, hops (explosive movement exercises).
3. A triangle is plotted on the pitch, each side of the triangle being about 20m. The players walk the first side, jog the second side and sprint the third side (continuous for 10 mins).
4. Circuit training squares are plotted on the pitch. A different exercise is performed in each square (1 minute in each square with 1 -minute rest). Wide arm press-ups; sit ups; jumps over a flag pole; narrow arm press-ups; squat thrusts; lie on back with feet 6 inches above ground; shuttle runs; burpies
5. Ball drill to get breath back - players divide into 2 teams, line up opposite each other and run from

So shrugging off distant soggy memories of the sport, I set off to meet Mark Bithell, a strapping guy who is the epitome of the sport. He harks from the darkest depths of Rugby League territory being brought up in the fanatical rugby surroundings of St Helens. His father was a coach and by the age of eleven, being surrounded by his rugby playing friends, he was already seriously immersed in tournaments and league games.
Mark continued playing the sport through his college years at Oxford before finally finding himself in London. London may have brought him great career options, but it proved harder to locate an interactive social group, "i work for a very successful law company in the city but still I found it hard to meet friends who were gay with the desire to play rugby". Mark explains. "So I sought out the Kings Cross Steelers, a gay rugby sports group which was set up around eight years ago and was, incredibly, the first gay rugby league playing team in the world."
Since their birth, many other gay teams, encouraged by their success, have been established. Manchester boasts the Spartans and Edinburgh is in the process of putting together a club but strangely it is the States that has seen the emergence of poofs getting their hands on the ball! Two years ago saw the first rugby world cup being hosted in San Francisco with the home team carrying off the coveted trophy. The Steelers, although coming second, are now proud to host the second Gay world championships this winter. Once again the yank teams will be strong in numbers but also expect gay representatives from Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa. This is going to be one tournament to watch and hang out at for sure, with more muscle and testosterone than a night at Salvation.
Mark, with his strong manly northern accent, is quick to point out that in the five years he has represented the club he has only ever heard one derogatory poof comment. With this acceptance