English rugby star plans London event, BENediction
By Jim Buzinski
Outsports.com
English rugby player Ben Cohen, one of the most pro-gay jocks we’ve ever seen, has announced details of his May 28 event in London to honor his gay fan base.
“Moving away from the more traditional rugby testimonial theme, the Ben Cohen Testimonial Committee is holding a ground breaking event at The Dorchester in London,” his publicist Jill Tipping said. “BENediction is an exclusive evening of fun, feasting and frivolity aimed primarily at including his legions of fans in the gay community in the testimonial celebrations.” 
Guests are promised a “whole host of treats and surprises making this event a real one off and not to be missed. Ben Cohen fans need to make sure that they reserve their places quickly as they are expected to snapped up fast,” Tipping said. Of course, we are not sure how far Cohen will take the concept of “one off,” but he has never been shy about marketing his physical assets.
The Ben Cohen Testimonial Committee, which will hold six fund-raisers this season, has chosen to support Orchid Male Cancer research and Northamptonshire and Warwickshire Air Ambulance to celebrate his 10th year in pro rugby. Tickets for the May 28 event, which include a four-course meal and an auction, go for 250 British pounds (about $500). Full details of the event and tickets are available on www.ben-cohen.com.
In an interview with Outsports last month, Cohen said that elite level rugby was ready for an openly gay player. “My impression is that it would be fine to be able to ‘come out’ in rugby,” he said. “Most rugby players are cool about it and think that people should be allowed to live their lives how they want to, but I can’t speak for everyone.”
Cohen is one of the 64 finalists in Outsports’ King of the Hardwood contest, in which readers pick the overall hottest male athlete.
