Continuing in their trail-blazing path, the Perth Rams have been awarded the 2025 Team Perth LGBTQIA+ Club of the Year Award, acknowledging their work in creating an inclusive sporting environment for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
For the Perth Rams, inclusion is at the centre of who they are and what they do – creating an environment where all are invited to play Rugby Union, no matter their gender, sexuality, background or experience. With a member-base of predominantly LGBTQIA+ participants, it’s not about performance for the Rams, but creating a community where people might have never experienced it before.
It’s this ethos that led to the Perth Rams being recognised earlier this week as the Team Perth LGBTQIA+ Club of the Year.
“It’s an incredible honour,” Club President, Andrew Riberio, said. “Especially as this award isn’t about winning games, it’s about people feeling welcome, supported and proud to be part of our club.”
“It really reinforces that the work we’ve been putting in to build a genuinely inclusive community is landing in the way we hoped. We’re proud, but we’re also hungry to keep growing. Inclusion isn’t a tick box, it’s something you do every day.”
With Pridefest WA kicking off this week, the Western Australian community are asserting the visibility, resilience, and unity of the LGBTIQA+ community – including sports. The 2025 theme, We Are Here, connects WA to the global struggle for equality, and carries a message of solidarity for all members of the community.
“[Pridefest] is a chance to celebrate and remember the growth in inclusion we’ve seen," Riberio said. “It’s allows our players and supporters to feel seen beyond the field and to share stories, uplift each other and connect with the wider LGBTQIA+ community.”
“It’s a reminder of why representation in sport matters and why the Rams exist in the first place.”
And it does, with research showing that sport-related spaces aid in identity development, self-empowerment and positive health outcomes for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Providing opportunities for visibility and inclusion is crucial, Riberio shared, with sports like Rugby Union providing the space to participate and become part of a international community.
“Representation changes culture,” he said. “When you shine a light on LGBTQIA+ players, coaches, volunteers and supporters, you’re showing that rugby genuinely has space for everyone.”
“It brings new people into the sport, it breaks stereotypes and it strengthens the game. The more we highlight our community, the more we build a rugby environment that reflects the world we actually live in.”
2025 has been a huge year for the Perth Rams. From reentering the Community Grade competition in the regular season, to travelling to New Zealand for the Purchas Cup, the year has provided immense opportunity for the club to show the power of inclusion – and it’s worked.
“This season has been huge for us. We’ve had our biggest-ever intake of new players, which shows people trust the culture we’ve built and feel confident stepping into rugby for the first time,” Riberio said.
"Coming second in our division at the Purchase Cup in Auckland was another major milestone. It proved our growth on the field matches our growth off it.”
During their Purchas Cup run in September 2025, hosted in Tāmaki Makaurau, New Zealand, Perth Rams had an incredible run. Featuring six LGBTQIA+ clubs from across Australia and New Zealand, the event was an incredible showcase of inclusion and LGBTQIA+ excellence, with the Perth Rams making it to the Purchas Shield Grand Final, where they just fell short of the title to the Sydney Convicts, 0-14.
However, taking the title as LGBTQIA+ Club of the Year was more of a highlight, and a true reflection of their hard work beyond the field.
“The standout moment [from 2025], without question, has been named the Team Perth LGBTQIA+ Club of the Year. That recognition captures everything we value: community, hard work and our strive towards genuine inclusion. It’s a reflection of the entire Ramily.”
As a game for all, Rugby Union offers a place for everyone, with a fiercely inclusive community. And with clubs like the Perth Rams leading the way for LGBTQIA+ inclusion, there’s always an opportunity for others to learn from their efforts.
When asked what he hopes other clubs learn from the Perth Rams’ inclusive work, Riberio commented, “I hope they see that inclusion isn’t complicated, it’s just consistent.”
“It’s listening, learning, making mistakes and backing it up with meaningful action. We’re not perfect, and we don’t pretend to be, but we keep showing up. And the payoff is huge, we have a stronger culture, great retention and a club people are genuinely proud to belong to.”
“If our example helps even one club rethink how they support their players and acknowledge the area for growth in their club then that’s a win for the whole rugby community.”
Perth Rams will be taking part in the Pridefest Parade, alongside RugbyWA, on Saturday, November 29 at the Supreme Court Gardens.
To learn more about the Perth Rams, click here.
