Meet Jamie White, chair of inclusive rugby club Bristol Bisons
I grew up in town called Malmesbury.
It’s about 45 minutes away and I’d lived there all my life. But I came to Bristol a lot – when you are part of the LGBTQ+ community and living in the countryside, you need to find people that are like you. Bristol is amazing for inclusivity and diversity; it’s one of the friendliest cities I’ve ever been to. I work in PR – at the amazing Wonderland Comms – and with Bristol also being such a creative hub, the city gave me opportunities professionally and socially, so I moved to Bristol in 2019 and now live in the Paintworks near Arnos Vale.
My dream dinner party guest is Freddie Mercury.
I wouldn’t be here without him. My mum and dad met at a Queen concert in Wembley in 1986, by chance. They got together after the show, I was born five years later and they’re still together now. He’s always been a big part of my life.
I’ve made a lot of friends since joining the Bisons and through playing rugby.
And that goes beyond just training together. At the weekend or after a match, you’ll often find us heading to queer spaces in the city, such as Old Market, which still has a strong LGBTQ+ scene and community. This includes Bristol Bear Bar which is run by some of the most welcoming people I know and is a fantastic sponsor of our team. A particular favourite there is the monthly Camptastic, hosted by the incredible Aled, also well-known as Bristol drag queen Miss Beaver. Beaver plays a big part in supporting the LGBTQ+ scene in Bristol, having helped co-ordinate one of the biggest stages at Bristol Pride – the Cabaret Stage – for over 10 years. Not only that, they’re a huge supporter of the Bisons and someone I find incredibly inspiring and lucky to call a friend.
As a youngster, I knew I had the right build for rugby but always had a lack of self-confidence to take it seriously.
For a lot of queer individuals, we still have those memories of PE at school, which can cause us – including myself – to hold back from sport. Interestingly, when you speak to a lot of the Bisons, they share a similar story and have only played rugby again since joining the team. I first found out about the Bisons when I was handed a leaflet at the team’s stand during Bristol Pride in 2016. Finding a team that celebrates inclusivity, made me want to get involved even more. So, when I finally moved to Bristol, I attended one of the regular open days for new members. And I haven’t looked back.
The Bristol Bisons team has seen a lot of change over the years.
This is the club’s 18th season since starting in 2005. One friend, who has been part of the team for over 12 years, has seen at least 300 people come and go during that time. The club has always been there for people for however long they need it. Whether they’re only in Bristol for a short while or staying for longer, it’s a place that gives you a safe space to be yourself. If you told me five years ago that I’d now be chair, I wouldn’t have believed you!
In the last 12 months, we’ve grown from 45-50 members to just over 90, almost doubling our membership.
This is for a mix of reasons, but fundamentally we think it’s because people are reassured by our safe, open, and inclusive environment. We now have members from all different sexualities, genders, ages, and backgrounds, across two full contact teams, as well as a more recent and growing touch team [a no contact team for any gender and any experience].
It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s been amazing to see such growth! And we want that to continue – we’re flipping the trend of many rugby clubs who are losing members, while we’re gaining them. And we want to help others by continuing to get our voice out there.
To find out more about Bristol Bisons and for information on the team’s new strategic partnership with Bristol Bears, encouraging further inclusion in rugby, follow them on social media @bisonsrfc, or visit bisonsrfc.co.uk.
