Sports, first prize stories – Giovanni Capriotti

Sports, first prize stories – Giovanni Capriotti

“When I first thought about submitting this series to the World Press Photo Contest I was going to enter it into the Sports category but then I realised that sport was just the framework for a much bigger story. This two-year project led me to think about the concept of masculinity and how society views and perceives it.

“I was looking for a theme to work on while trying to build up my career as a photographer in Canada. One day in Toronto I spotted these guys handing out pamphlets at a gay pride event. They were trying to recruit new players and as a former rugby player part of me just wanted to sign up for the team! But then I realised I could break my bones and might not be able to work! I wanted to focus on being a photographer, so I kept the flyer, got in touch and asked if I could photograph them instead.

“All the guys in this team are different and they are all from various ‘tribes’ in the LGBTQ community so I needed to know how to approach them individually. You learn that along the way. When I started in 2015, I didn’t know what direction this story would go in and it wasn’t until the team invited me to go with them to Nashville, USA for the LGBTQ Rugby World Cup [known officially as the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament] that I realised this project had become about something more than just rugby. I wanted to tell the story of the team but I didn't want to look at them in a stereotypical way. Their purpose was to create a safe space for all the members to play the game they love and be themselves.

“I love black and white images and it was a deliberate choice to work in monochrome. It might sound cheesy but sometimes when you use colour you can become distracted. I wanted to show how rough the game was and yet I wanted to focus on other elements too: masculinity, femininity and life ‘on the other side’ of the coin. Black and white worked well for this.”

Muddy York Rugby Football Club player Danny Perez (standing) and his partner Jonathan Buckley cuddle on the balcony of their apartment in Toronto, Canada

Muddy York Rugby Football Club player Danny Perez (standing) and his partner Jonathan Buckley cuddle on the balcony of their apartment in Toronto, Canada. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/250sec at f/22, ISO 800.
© Giovanni Capriotti

En route to a match, Muddy York Rugby Football Club head coach and player Eric DeMarbre prepares the team’s line-up for the Bingham Cup opener.

En route to a match, Muddy York Rugby Football Club head coach and player Eric DeMarbre prepares the team’s line-up for the Bingham Cup opener. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/1600sec at f/9, ISO 5000.
© Giovanni Capriotti

Muddy York’s Michael Smith carries the ball in a match against the Nashville Grizzlies during a semi-final of the Hoagland Shield, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Muddy York’s Michael Smith carries the ball in a match against the Nashville Grizzlies during a semi-final of the Hoagland Shield, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/800sec at f/11, ISO 2500.
© Giovanni Capriotti

Muddy York Rugby Football Club players Michael Smith (left), Devin McCarney (centre) and John-Paul Markides rehearse for their performance at the team’s annual fundraiser drag show.

Muddy York Rugby Football Club players Michael Smith (left), Devin McCarney (centre) and John-Paul Markides rehearse for their performance at the team’s annual fundraiser drag show. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/60sec at f/8, ISO 4000.

© Giovanni Capriotti

Muddy York Rugby Football Club's players Carlo Vitelli (right) and David Cameron-Donnachie smoke outside the Phoenix club in Toronto.

Muddy York Rugby Football Club's players Carlo Vitelli (right) and David Cameron-Donnachie smoke outside the Phoenix club in Toronto. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/13sec at f/4, ISO 10,000.

© Giovanni Capriotti

John-Paul Markides (left) kisses his partner Muddy York teammate Kasimir Kosakowski during the Pride Toronto parade.

John-Paul Markides (left) kisses his partner Muddy York teammate Kasimir Kosakowski during the Pride Toronto parade. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/160sec at f/13, ISO 800.

© Giovanni Capriotti

Muddy York RFC’s captain Jimmy Karttunen (left) and teammate Carlo Vitelli (right) walk with drag queen Demanda Tension along Church Street in Toronto’s gay village.

Muddy York RFC’s captain Jimmy Karttunen (left) and teammate Carlo Vitelli (right) walk with drag queen Demanda Tension along Church Street in Toronto’s gay village. They are heading to the opening ceremony of the Beaver Bowl, an annual tournament hosted by Muddy York featuring both gay and non-gay teams. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/400sec at f/4, ISO 2500.
© Giovanni Capriotti

Muddy York competes with the Ottawa Wolves in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, in a match during the Bingham Cup, an international competition featuring gay rugby teams.

Muddy York competes with the Ottawa Wolves in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, in a match during the Bingham Cup, an international competition featuring gay rugby teams. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/4000sec at f/13, ISO 3200.
© Giovanni Capriotti

Muddy York Rugby Football Club player Andrew Hsueh films an emotional moment between the team’s president John Jeffery and director of recruitment Ian Gibb during the awards ceremony at the team’s end-of-season banquet, in Toronto, Canada.

Muddy York Rugby Football Club player Andrew Hsueh films an emotional moment between the team’s president John Jeffery and director of recruitment Ian Gibb during the awards ceremony at the team’s end-of-season banquet, in Toronto, Canada. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF24-70mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/60sec at f/35.6, ISO 25,600.
© Giovanni Capriotti

The New York Gotham Knights players celebrate their Bingham Plate win over the London King’s Cross Steelers at the Ted Rhodes Park, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

The New York Gotham Knights players celebrate their Bingham Plate win over the London Kings Cross Steelers at the Ted Rhodes Park, in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Taken on a Canon EOS-1D X with an EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM lens; the exposure was 1/1600sec at f/11, ISO 2500.
© Giovanni Capriotti