S.F. Gay Rugby Team Wins Bingham Cup 
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

(London) For the second year San Francisco's Fog has won the Mark Bingham Cup, the highest prize in gay rugby, and named in honor of the 9-11 hero who was one of the original players on the team.

The Fog defeated Manchester's Village Spartans by an impressive 26 - 7 Sunday in the finals of the international event held this year in London.

More than 27 teams from around the world took part in the competition.

The Fog was started in 2000 and catapulted onto the international stage following the death of Bingham on September 11, 2001.  

Bingham is believed to have been one of the passengers who stormed the cockpit of Flight 93, overcoming the hijackers and bringing the plane down in Pennsylvania.

At 6-feet, 5-inches Bingham was an imposing figure, both on and off the rugby field.  He built his public relations firm into one of the most respected small agencies in America with offices in San Francisco and New York.

As the flight was taken over by terrorists, Bingham and a few other courageous men fought back. 

The burly Bingham, used his cell phone to call his mother and tell her the plane was being hijacked – and that he loved her.

Moments later the plane crashed into a Pennsylvania farm field. Authorities believe the hijackers intended to target either the White House or the Capitol. 

In his memory the Fog established the Mark Bingham Cup last year and organized an international meet of other gay rugby teams.

"As defending Bingham Cup champions, the Fog's first side is thrilled to be bringing the tournament trophy to the birthplace of rugby, where it can be displayed for the pleasure of the other IGRAB clubs as well as rugby supporters from all over -- at least until it's time to load it back into its carrying case for the long journey back to San Francisco," the team said in a statement as it headed off to Britain.