Falcons' captain Jeremy Brankin opened proceedings by explaining why there was a need for an all-inclusive rugby team. He was followed by Williams, who spoke with wit about his long term relationship with different forms of the club.
Leitch and Henry were up after dinner and they made quite the star turn together on stage. Guests tell Spy both were in fine form throughout the night. Henry spoke of the hard graft involved in winning the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
His message to the Falcons was to go out and play hard, and that sexuality had nothing to do with winning rugby.
Spy asked Leitch why he was drawn to help the Falcons. He replied: "Sexuality should have nothing to do with winning games and it was great to help out a sports team that wants to win. They were a bloody good bunch of people and Graham and I had a great fun time."
However, on his TV3 Monday morning show, controversial broadcaster Paul Henry had a spat with newsreader Hilary Barry, asking why there was the need for a gay rugby team.
Henry seemed clueless to the gravitas of support The NZ Falcons team had received the previous Saturday.
It was classic Henry attention seeking but Barry put up a good fight.
Spy hopes Barry showed him the report Out on the Fields, the world's first international study on homophobia in sport released earlier this year. It revealed that bullying from teammates and discrimination from coaches and officials is widespread and often leads to players dropping out of team sports.
Henry must have missed TV One's Seven Sharp, who sent the boys off to Sydney to last year's GRWC, or the 60 Minutes follow up story on the Falcons, the Bingham Cup and Aussie rugby greats of all codes standing against homophobia with the campaign, 'If you can play, you can play!'
Spy asked The NZ Falcons for their response to Paul Henry's questioning of a Gay Rugby World Cup.
A spokesperson for the team replied: "Rugby hasn't traditionally been accepting of the LGBTIA+ community. The only progress that has been made has come about at the hands of the brave people who stood up and forced themselves to be heard.
"NZ Falcons RFC is an inclusive club with the goal of enabling players to come together to participate and enjoy rugby in an open and supportive environment. The Falcons play in the Auckland rugby competition in the president's grade and the teams organise a world cup in honour of the first players to establish supportive environments for gay players to compete in.
"You don't have to be gay to play for the Falcons. You have to believe in equal opportunity and want to challenge the prevailing status quo in regards to culture in sports. And that's what the players buy into and why they play."
"Everyone is welcome, and people who never felt comfortable playing, get a chance to develop in an environment where they won't be abused, and can be themselves. Inclusion, progress, sacrifice, love, and sport are worth celebrating.
"It's also important to note that Mark Bingham, the man the trophy is named after, sacrificed his life fighting terrorists on flight United 93 on 9/11. Many players (particularly those from the USA) wish to honour his life and courage."
Spy asked Brankin how he felt having sporting legends support the team on Saturday night.
Brankin: "When Sir Graham added a signed copy of his book to the auction it created quite the bidding war. I think this reflects just how admirable these guys are. They had everyone in fits with their presentation, they definitely need their own TV show together!"
Brankin's favourite All Black is Richie McCaw because he leads by example on the field.
Spy asked him how he felt his team would go in Nashville.
Brankin: "Next year's Bingham Cup in Nashville will be a tough one for the team, taking a solid and competitive team all that distance. The NZ Falcons showed that at the same tournament in 2014 we were right up there in competing, just a few results didn't go our way. I have faith that with the right preparation, the Bingham Cup could be finding a new home in NZ in 2016."
Note: This Saturday The NZ Falcons will be hosting approximately eight teams from New Zealand and Australia, competing for the annual Purchas Cup. It's set to be a fantastic lead up to the 2016 Bingham Cup. Supporters are welcome at Western Springs Stadium.
Perhaps Hilary Barry could take Paul Henry, a self-described loather of sports, on a date.
