Emerald Warriors
Encyclopedia
The Emerald Warriors are an Irish
rugby
team based in Dublin. They play in the Leinster Metro J4 Junior League and are members of the International Gay Rugby Association and Board
. They are Ireland's first primarily gay
rugby team although it is open to anyone with an interest in playing rugby and includes heterosexual members.
, often referred to as the 'Gay World Cup' that year, representing Ireland. They competed again in 2006 and went on to host the event in 2008, in Dublin City University
's sports complex with endorsement from the IRFU. The event was deemed a success for rugby in general, for bringing gay rugby in Ireland to a new level of organisation and popularity by The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network
(GLEN). They entered the Leinster Metro Junior league in 2007. They also competed in the Union Cup
a biennial European, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament in London
in 2009.
shield with several rugby balls forming a decorative floral pattern at the center of the crest.
station TG4
called Queering the Pitch which followed the Emerald Warriors, representing Ireland at the The Bingham Cup in 2006. The documentary, which was directed by Tom Maguire, was also screened at GAZE: The Dublin International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in 2007.
when ruling on equality legislation regarding whether the club could prohibit women from joining. It ruled there is no prohibition on the establishment of clubs or associations whose membership is limited to persons of a particular gender and made a specific reference to the Emerald Warriors recognising that rugby is not a "need" of gay men.
Parade and Mr Gay Ireland
, with club member Barry Meegan who was asked by his team mates to represent the club, winning the competition in 2007 and raising money for HIV
and AIDS
related charities based in Dublin in the process.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team based in Dublin. They play in the Leinster Metro J4 Junior League and are members of the International Gay Rugby Association and Board
International Gay Rugby Association and Board
International Gay Rugby Association and Board is the umbrella organization for the world's gay rugby clubs. It is dedicated to encouraging lesbians and gay men everywhere to play rugby...
. They are Ireland's first primarily gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
rugby team although it is open to anyone with an interest in playing rugby and includes heterosexual members.
History
Emerald Warriors RFC was formed in August 2003 by Richie Whyte to provide gay and bisexual men the opportunity to play rugby in Ireland and internationally and to create links with similar teams and organizations in the UK, Europe and America. The team began playing in 2004 and took part in the Bingham CupMark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament
The Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament or the Bingham Cup is a biennial international, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament, first held in 2002...
, often referred to as the 'Gay World Cup' that year, representing Ireland. They competed again in 2006 and went on to host the event in 2008, in Dublin City University
Dublin City University
Dublin City University is a university situated between Glasnevin, Santry, Ballymun and Whitehall on the Northside of Dublin in Ireland...
's sports complex with endorsement from the IRFU. The event was deemed a success for rugby in general, for bringing gay rugby in Ireland to a new level of organisation and popularity by The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network
Gay and Lesbian Equality Network
The Gay and Lesbian Equality Network is an Irish non-governmental gay rights group, based in Dublin, Ireland. The organisation was founded in 1988 and focuses mainly on achieving change in legislation and social policy that will achieve full equality and inclusion for lesbian, gay and bisexual ...
(GLEN). They entered the Leinster Metro Junior league in 2007. They also competed in the Union Cup
Union Cup
The Union Cup is a biennial European, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament, bringing together teams and joint teams from all over Europe.-Montpellier 2005:The first edition was held in May 2005 in Montpellier, France...
a biennial European, non-professional, gay rugby union tournament in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 2009.
Crest and colours
The club colours are dark blue, green and white. The team crest is based on a traditional CelticCeltic art
Celtic art is the art associated with the peoples known as Celts; those who spoke the Celtic languages in Europe from pre-history through to the modern period, as well as the art of ancient peoples whose language is uncertain, but have cultural and stylistic similarities with speakers of Celtic...
shield with several rugby balls forming a decorative floral pattern at the center of the crest.
Documentary film
The team was subject of a documentary film on Irish languageIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
station TG4
TG4
TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....
called Queering the Pitch which followed the Emerald Warriors, representing Ireland at the The Bingham Cup in 2006. The documentary, which was directed by Tom Maguire, was also screened at GAZE: The Dublin International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival in 2007.
Mention in court ruling
The club was mentioned in a 2009 Irish Supreme Court judgment on Portmarnock Golf ClubPortmarnock Golf Club
Portmarnock Golf Club was established in 1894, and lies just North of Dublin, in Portmarnock, Fingal, Ireland. The course was laid out by William Pickeman on land owned by the distiller John Jameson, and originally consisted of just 9 holes, with another nine being added two years later.Portmarnock...
when ruling on equality legislation regarding whether the club could prohibit women from joining. It ruled there is no prohibition on the establishment of clubs or associations whose membership is limited to persons of a particular gender and made a specific reference to the Emerald Warriors recognising that rugby is not a "need" of gay men.
Other events
The team and its members have also taken part in events such as the Dublin PrideDublin Pride
The Dublin Pride Festival is an annual series of events which celebrates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer life in Dublin, Ireland. It is the largest LGBTQ pride festival in the Republic of Ireland. The festival culminates in a pride parade which is held in June...
Parade and Mr Gay Ireland
Mr Gay Ireland
Mr Gay Ireland is an annual contest for gay men, with regional heats held in gay venues around Ireland, with a grand final held in late October. In previous years the final has been held in The George, Dublin. The current title holder is Max Krzyzanowski. Max won the title of Mr...
, with club member Barry Meegan who was asked by his team mates to represent the club, winning the competition in 2007 and raising money for HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
related charities based in Dublin in the process.