Shamrock Warriors RFC
Encyclopedia
Shamrock Warriors RFC is a Rugby sevens
club founded in 2009 by former Leinster
out-half Fergal Campion. They are the only 7's club in Ireland endorsed by the Irish Rugby Football Union
and will represent Ireland
as the only official Irish 7's team competing at the top level tournaments in Europe.
or in the Olympic Sevens. The intention is to develop the game in Ireland and use the IRFU approved Warriors as the foundation for a national side
. Ireland does not participate in the official HSBC Sevens World Series. The IRFU plans to make a decision in early 2013 about thir future engagement in both the Olympic and IRB professional sevens circuit. The Shamrock Warriors is the beginning of the process of getting sevens into the IRFU and into the national circuit. The team is self-funding, depending on sponsorship
, those coming from provincial contracts and development players that may not win full professional contracts.
Luke O’Callaghan is manager of the women. The team also hopes to recruite female
Gaelic football
players.
and Scotland coach Matt Williams has been secured as a technical advisor for the venture while a committee including former internationals Denis Hickie
and Malcolm O’Kelly has also come on board to assist the project.
The club aims to recruit players on playing at club level or those who may be coming off a professional contract, those falling off academy contracts as well as potential players coming up from school level. The team is managed by Derek Thornton.
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
club founded in 2009 by former Leinster
Leinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
out-half Fergal Campion. They are the only 7's club in Ireland endorsed by the Irish Rugby Football Union
Irish Rugby Football Union
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the body managing rugby union in Ireland. The IRFU has its head office at 10/12 Lansdowne Road and home ground at Aviva Stadium, where Irish rugby union international matches are played...
and will represent Ireland
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...
as the only official Irish 7's team competing at the top level tournaments in Europe.
Aims
The clubs aim is to develop a pool of experienced 7's players for the IRFU to be in position to select to develop into a future international 7's squad to compete in tournaments by giving them experience playing in the top level competition should the IRFU become involved in professional international sevensIRB Sevens World Series
The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
or in the Olympic Sevens. The intention is to develop the game in Ireland and use the IRFU approved Warriors as the foundation for a national side
Ireland national rugby union team (sevens)
The Ireland national rugby union sevens team have previously competed in the IRB Sevens World Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens. Although there is no permanent team at present, there may well be in the future.-Results:...
. Ireland does not participate in the official HSBC Sevens World Series. The IRFU plans to make a decision in early 2013 about thir future engagement in both the Olympic and IRB professional sevens circuit. The Shamrock Warriors is the beginning of the process of getting sevens into the IRFU and into the national circuit. The team is self-funding, depending on sponsorship
Players
The player pool consists of players who are playing club rugby in IrelandRugby union in Ireland
Rugby union is a popular team sport played in Ireland. The sport is organised on an all-Ireland basis with one team, governing body and league for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland...
, those coming from provincial contracts and development players that may not win full professional contracts.
Womens' team
There is also a women's team that consists of club players around the country led by former Irish captain Sarah Jane Belton and is managed by Kazakhstan internationalKazakhstan national rugby union team
The Kazakhstan national rugby union team represents Kazakhstan at international level of rugby union. The team are nicknamed "The Nomads" and are controlled by the Kazakhstan Rugby Union....
Luke O’Callaghan is manager of the women. The team also hopes to recruite female
Ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies' Gaelic football is a team sport for women, very similar to Gaelic football, and co-ordinated by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association...
Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
players.
Key staff
Former LeinsterLeinster Rugby
Leinster Rugby, usually referred to simply as Leinster, is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Dublin, representing the Irish province of Leinster, that competes in the RaboDirect Pro 12 and also competes in the Heineken Cup...
and Scotland coach Matt Williams has been secured as a technical advisor for the venture while a committee including former internationals Denis Hickie
Denis Hickie
Denis Anthony Hickie born 13 February 1976 in Dublin, Ireland is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet...
and Malcolm O’Kelly has also come on board to assist the project.
The club aims to recruit players on playing at club level or those who may be coming off a professional contract, those falling off academy contracts as well as potential players coming up from school level. The team is managed by Derek Thornton.
Committee
- Fergal Campion
- Derek Thornton
- Matt WilliamsMatt Williams (rugby coach)Matt Williams is an Australian rugby union coach from New South Wales.Williams, a teacher by profession, started in coaching at club level with Western Suburbs in Sydney, Australia in 1991...
- David McHughDavid McHughDavid McHugh is an international Rugby Union Test referee. Born in Limerick, Ireland, McHugh has refereed matches at the 1995, 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups, as well as refereeing the finals of the 1996 and 2001 Heineken Cup...
- Denis HickieDenis HickieDenis Anthony Hickie born 13 February 1976 in Dublin, Ireland is a retired professional rugby union footballer employed by the Irish Rugby Football Union. He played his club rugby for Leinster. His primary position was on the wing. He is also known as Disco Denis as a result of his quick feet...
- Victor CostelloVictor CostelloVictor Costello is a retired Irish rugby player and Olympic shot-putter. Playing senior rugby throughout the 1990s until his retirement in 2005, his rugby career with Leinster and Ireland straddled the amateur and professional eras...
- Malcolm O'KellyMalcolm O'KellyMalcolm O'Kelly is a retired Irish rugby union player who played as a lock for Ireland and Leinster....
Competitions
The club is planning to compete in a number of outings for 2011 including:- Kinsale SevensKinsale SevensThe Kinsale Sevens is Ireland and Europe's premier seven-a-side club rugby event...
- Omagh
- Manchester
- London Rocks
- West Country
- Newquay
- Roma sevenRoma sevenThe Roma Seven International Rugby Sevens Tournament is held every years since 2002 in Rome, Italy, at the Stadio dei Marmi.-2009:5 & 6 June 2009The tournament was won by . Other participants were: , , , , Murrayfields Wanderers RFC...