Matthew Pearson joins inclusive rugby team in Cambridge
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 8, 2026, 5:32 AM
Last updated Aug 8, 2026
Matthew Pearson, a player from King's Lynn, attends training sessions with the Cambridge Yales, a newly formed gay and inclusive rugby team launched in June. The club is drawing around 40 players each week from across Cambridgeshire and the East of England. For many participants, including Pearson, this environment offers a welcoming space that contrasts with their earlier experiences in traditional rugby settings. Co-founder Alex Meredith aims to provide an opportunity for players to engage in a sport that was previously intimidating due to societal pressures. The Yales are focused on developing skills through training, including techniques for lineouts.
- •Matthew Pearson drives over an hour weekly to train with the Yales.
- •The club attracts first-time rugby players who avoided traditional clubs.
- •Training includes learning new techniques like lifting teammates during lineouts.
- •The Yales are gaining interest and may play in a league soon.
- •Alex Meredith co-founded the team to fill a gap in team sports for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- 5:32 AMYahoo Sports — 'I was picked last for rugby at school - now I love to play'
"Matthew Pearson is among the new recruits at a gay rugby team in Cambridge.
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