Day One of the Bingham Cup has ended in Dublin with the team I'm mainly going to see tomorrow (although I know many of the guys from other UK, Irish, Danish and French teams too) off to a storming start. The Cardiff Lions won both of their games; 36-0 against the Danish team Copenhagen Scrum and 41-10 against Phoenix Storm from Arizona.

I'm told that the Cardiff Lions' top try scorer, with five tries, is Wee Johnny 'Pocket Rocket' Harris. However, that information came via a text message from the man himself, so make of it what you will. On the left is a picture of Mr Harris from a tournament last year. Try to contain yourselves.

It's good to see the tournament getting some coverage today from BBC News, Pink News, 365gay.com and Irish Rugby.

See you in Dublin tomorrow!

Labels: Bingham Cup, Dublin, rugby

· link

No one can be surprised that Dustin The Turkey won Ireland's Eurosong, but I am pleasantly shocked that England beat France 13-24 in the rugby in Paris.

Croatia and FYR Macedonia have picked two appalling songs to send to Eurovision. Ukraine has picked a corker by Ani Lorak and Romania is sending the sexiest man I've seen so far in this Eurovision season.

But the news will be the turkey. I think Ireland will now finish in the top five in Serbia, if they can get past the slightly more discerning audience who will watch their Eurovision semi-final. And the EBU will change the rules so that no puppets are allowed after this year.

Labels: Dustin The Turkey, Eurovision 2008, Ireland, rugby, Six Nations

· link

I've been off work for two days after a bizarre 'getting washing out of the washing machine' accident, in which I bent down awkwardly and felt a sharp pain in my back as I pulled a muscle. (One of my friends, who lives with his parents, said, "That's why I don't do my own washing." Wise words indeed.)

There are lots of things happening today and tomorrow:

The 10th anniversary of Diana's death and the memorial service in London.
- See my diary below.

The ending of the football transfer window at midnight.
- If Villa don't buy some decent players today, I will be very cross indeed, as we can't survive until January with the current, depleted squad.

My friend Eduardo's 32nd birthday.
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños Edu!

The Mr Gay UK final in Blackpool (and Doctor Who turning on the illuminations beforehand).
- The Birmingham twink seems to have disappeared from the list, so we won't be winning it for the fourth year (effectively) in a row. (We wouldn't if he were still in it anyway.)
- We're not overly impressed with this year's bunch, to be honest, but we'll go with Mr Blackpool to win it on home turf. Mr. Nottingham's not too bad, but it has to be said; where's the beef?

The Big Brother final.
- Bumbling Brian must win, not the dopey twins. And will Davina reveal the washing machine in the garden? How stupid are they all going to feel, after handwashing for 94 days?

However, I'll be missing all these, because I'm off to Cardiff for the Mardi Gras. A meal tonight with gay rugby players from various parts of Europe. I may get drunk and speak to the French ones. Oh, gay French rugby players. Be still my beating heart!

Tomorrow, an international gay rugby tournament on the castle fields, hosted by the Cardiff Lions, with me in attendance as official photographer. It's bigger than before, with 9 or ten teams, and includes women's teams for the first time.

Then the Mardi Gras event itself tomorrow afternoon and who knows what on Saturday night and Sunday? I probably won't even be watching the first ever Eurovision Dance Contest tomorrow night, hosted by the BBC (and Graham Norton) from London. With Brendan and Camilla as our imported entrants (from New Zealand and Denmark respectively), we might even have a chance of winning. Half of Austria's entry is British too, so vote for them. She's from Liverpool.

Must dash. Cardiff, here we come! Have a great weekend. Vote Brian!

Labels: Cardiff Mardi Gras, events, rugby, weekend

· link

Rugger buggers: Chris of the Newcastle Ravens beats off a Bristol Bison.

Labels: Bristol, photo, rugby

· link