The burly boys of Sydney’s Convicts Rugby Team want you.

The gay team’s training has begun early this year as they build up to a massive Bingham Cup Tournament – the gay rugby world cup – happening this May in Manchester.

“We are doing beach training at the start of the season to make the tackles a bit easier to take, and also good cardio to prep for when we hit the fields,” says the Convicts’ Erik Denison.

Our exclusive photo shows team members Junray Burlas, Richard Coates and Jay Claydon at Bondi Beach.

The Convicts’ President David Whittaker says he’s looking forward to his squad competing strongly in England, and new players are welcome to join them as two energized teams are heading over from Sydney.

“May’s tournament in Manchester will be our fifth Bingham and we will be looking to win our third Championship in both grades of competition,” he says.

“We were thrilled to win the second grade trophy, the Bingham Bowl, in 2010 in Minneapolis,” Whittaker adds. “But our strongest side narrowly missed out on the big prize, the Bingham Cup in the dying seconds of the grand final. That loss hurt and we are determined to win the Cup back and retain the Bowl.

“We need to make the most of the off-season and make sure our guys are fit and ready to play at the highest level when they get to Manchester.”

The Convicts were lucky to welcome more than 20 new players in recent years, he says. “We are hoping to get some more new guys in coming months and so of the 55 players we will take to Manchester, maybe half of them will be on their first Bingham Cup tour.

“We continue to look for new players and now is a great time to join the Convicts and travel the world.”

The Convicts will be recruiting new players at this Sunday’s Mardi Gras Fair Day, and also have a variety of fundraising social nights planned like New Players Night, Convicts Open Day, Easter Booty Camp, Trivia Night and a Rugger Bugger party in May.

Get involved! Find out more about the Sydney Convicts Rugby Team here on its official website.

Photos from last year’s ‘Wrestle a Rugger’ Convicts fundrasinig night at the Midnight Shift are shown below…