The Sydney Convicts gay rugby team is hoping for another big win as they head to Minneapolis – but the team’s chief drag mascot has been struck down with shingles and can’t join them for the big Bingham World Cup.

“I’m absolutely devastated to not be going with them,” laments Maxi Shield from her sickbed this afternoon.

When a severe rash on Maxi’s forehead spread to her eye at the weekend, her doctor said she shouldn’t travel. The fundraising drag diva believes her painful shingles breakout (pictured) was brought on by stress. “My eye nearly closed up and my doctor warned me that I could’ve gone blind,” she tells Same Same.

“You’ve got to listen to what your body is telling you. I’ve been trying to do too much lately – working so hard and giving 110%.”

Scrum-thing special

70 Australians flew to Minneapolis for this weekend’s biannual all-gay Bingham World Cup, including around 50 players. The crew mostly hails from Sydney but boasts several members of Melbourne’s Chargers team also.

“The team arrived in this morning,” confirms Maxi. “They’re two-time world champions and are looking good for this year. If they win the Cup for a third time in a row it’ll be the first time any country has achieved that.”

The Sydney Convicts will be blogging during their American trip – catch up on the action at their official website.