“People I’d never met before are now really good friends” – Next generation of Emerald Warriors wanted

"People I had never met before are now really good friends."

Back in the summer of 2019, the DCU campus, in Whitehall, played host to The Union Cup. Oran Sweeney and the Emerald Warriors helped set the scene for Europe’s biggest LGBT+ inclusive rugby tournament. The Derry native was a special guest on House of Rugby and he explained how he got involved with Emerald Warriors. He commented: "I wanted something to meet some friends, and some gay people, in a new city. Something to keep me fit while travelling home to play Gaelic for my home team. It has transformed from there." Graham Flaherty was at that Union Cup, in 2019, and it was there the idea of getting involved in Emerald Warriors took hold. "I saw them, and the other teams, playing and thought I'd like to get back into rugby.

"I missed the open evening, soon after, but went along to one of their training sessions. Once I got talking to their players and coaches, they made my getting involved so easy and I was soon into the swing of it. "All skill levels are catered for. There is a massive mix at the club - people that played rugby when they were younger, ones that have continued on through schools and other clubs and folks in their 20s and 30s with no rugby experience at all. We have two clubs in the Dublin Metro League and a tag rugby side, too. "Some prefer playing tag and are happy there. Others get a taste for it then want to give contact rugby a go. And then you have the older players that have had enough of the contact but still want to play, so they try out tag."

[caption id="attachment_201831" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Richie Fagan, Emerald Warriors President, John Noone and Oran Sweeney pictured ahead of the 2019 Union Cup. (Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan)[/caption]

19 years, and counting, of Emerald Warriors

The club was formed in 2003 so next year will see the Emerald Warriors turn 20. It will be a big anniversary year for the club with lots planned, including a trip to Birmingham to play The Union Cup. Going on tour, now that the worst of the Covid pandemic is behind us, is back on the slate for Emerald Warriors. Earlier this year, they travelled to Ottawa, Canada for The Bingham Cup. The Warriors finished fifth and won the Bingham Plate, the club's best finish in the international, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament. Flaherty says the club has a membership of more than 200 contact and non-contact members, along with pavilion members that do not play but help the club tick over and help out in any way they can.

"We are open to everyone on the LGBT+ community and we also have a lot of straight players that are big allies of us, and what we are doing. Anyone with a genuine interest in playing rugby, we want them to know they are more than welcome to come along and give it a go. "One of the best aspects I've had from my experience with the club has been the fun and the friendships made. People I had never met before are now really good friends and it has expanded my social network considerably. "There's a couple that met each other when they started playing together at the club, and who are now engaged."

The Emerald Warriors open evening will take place at their current grounds at The High School in Rathgar, from 7pm on Monday, October 3. https://twitter.com/ewrfc/status/1574093406057504770 For more information on the evening, and the club, visit their site HERE.

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