EWRFC News
Naoise on Tour: Portugal and Pig ’n’ Porter
Photos Courtesy of Orly Mahoney and Dilara Ülker. Design by Alan McArthur, Dexal Design
Portugal Beach Tag Rugby and Pig ’n' Porter
It has been a busy few months for the Emerald Warriors Naoise teams, with members representing the club at two fantastic tournaments: the Portugal Beach Tag Rugby Tournament in Praia da Rocha and Pig ’n' Porter in Limerick.
Portugal Beach Tag Rugby
Two Emerald Warriors teams travelled to Praia da Rocha to compete in the Portugal Beach Tag Rugby Tournament, organised by Cork Tag Rugby. Bringing together players from across the club,, contact and tag members, the trip combined plenty of rugby with sunshine, social events and a chance to represent the club abroad.
The squads were captained by Aude de Casanove and Daniel Casey and both teams performed strongly against quality opposition. By the end of the tournament, the Warriors had reached the quarter-finals of theirrespective competitions, a brilliant result for everyone involved.
For many players, the highlight was simply being part of the trip. From training together beforehand to spending a weekend on the Algarve coast, it was a great opportunity for members from different parts of the club to get to know one another, share some rugby and make a few memories along the way.
Pig ’n' Porter
The Pig 'n' Porter Tournament on 13 June was another fantastic weekend of rugby, friendship and great memories. I had the privilege of captaining the Naoise Plum development team, which was a real honour.
We travelled to Limerick on Friday and stayed at the University of Limerick before heading off on Saturday morning for our first match at 10:30am. The weather couldn't have been better and it was shaping up to be a brilliant day.
With only 10 players in our squad, we knew we faced a challenge, especially when most other teams had 14 players. Despite being short on numbers, everyone gave absolutely everything. Match after match we grew in confidence, winning all of our group games and earning a well-deserved place in the semi-finals.
Unfortunately, a number of injuries meant we had to withdraw just before the semi-final. While disappointing, it certainly didn't take away from what we had achieved. Reaching the semi-finals was a huge milestone for the Naoise Plum development team and our best performance at the tournament to date.
Every player showed incredible commitment, determination and team spirit throughout the day. By the time the rugby finished, we were exhausted, sunburnt and running on adrenaline, but immensely proud of what we had accomplished together.
After the matches, we headed back to freshen up before enjoying pizza and the legendary Kangaroo Court. As for what happened there... well, what happens on tour stays on tour!
That evening we returned to the Pig 'n' Porter venue, where the celebrations continued with a DJ, plenty of dancing and a chance to reflect on what had been an unforgettable day. It was the perfect way to round off a brilliant tournament.
A huge thank you to the Pig 'n' Porter organisers for putting on such a fantastic event, and to every member of the Naoise Plum team for the passion, resilience, humour and support they brought throughout the weekend. Being asked to captain this group is something I'll always be proud of, and I can't wait to see what we achieve together next year.
Dave Egan
Naoise Plum Captain
Looking Back
While the results were impressive, both trips were about much more than winning matches. Portugal and Pig ’n' Porter brought together new and experienced players, strengthened friendships across the club and gave members the chance to represent Emerald Warriors on and off the pitch.
Congratulations to everyone who travelled, played, supported and helped organise both tournaments. The club was represented brilliantly throughout and both trips highlighted everything that makes Naoise special: rugby, friendship and community.