Moore’s 40 shades of green and gold

Stephen Moore was 19 or 20 when the IRFU came knocking on his door.

Born in Saudi Arabia to Irish parents, and brought up in Salthill until the age of five, the now 30-year-old has gone on to wear the famous gold jumper more times than any other hooker in Australian history, but the old country is never far away.

His folks, Tom and Maureen, settled well in Queensland, but found the pull of home strong enough to make the monstrous journey northwards with their four kids every two years — and among the cousins here was one Paddy O’Rourke.