Moore Gets Wallaby Call-Up

Hooker Stephen Moore, Saudi Arabian-born to Irish parents, linked up with the Australian squad in France on Saturday night as cover for groin injury victim Adam Freier.

Moore’s idol Keith Wood in action against Australia at RWC2003

Hooker Stephen Moore, Saudi Arabian-born to Irish parents, linked up with the Australian squad in France on Saturday night as cover for groin injury victim Adam Freier.

The 22-year-old Queensland Red, who has been capped by the Wallabies at Under-19, Under-21 and ‘A’ level, is set to play for the ‘A’ side against the French Barbarians in Bordeaux on Tuesday.

In his early years, Moore and his family moved back to Galway before emigrating to Australia in 1988.

Moore, who was rumoured to be a possible target for Connacht during the summer, cites former Ireland captain Keith Wood as his rugby idol.

Freier damaged his groin during an indoor session of activities and is to have the injury monitored by Australian medical staff day-by-day.

Wallaby coach Eddie Jones said: “Adam has a slight groin strain and is in doubt for the Australia A game against the (French) Barbarians on Tuesday, so we’ve decided to fly Stephen Moore over to join the squad.

“Stephen will be in contention for a place in the Australia ‘A’ team, while we’ll just keep an eye on Adam over the next couple of days and see how he progresses.”

The Wallabies, who began their Northern Hemisphere tour against France in Marseille next Saturday, are to sport a new jersey for the tour.

The custom-designed Canterbury-made jersey sees a change in design with the green hoops removed from the sleeves and replaced with a green stretchable panel under the sleeves and down the side of the jersey.

The logo of the Wallabies’ major sponsor Qantas will change from white to black, while the Coat of Arms remains on the left chest and the Wallaby and Southern Cross remain on the right chest.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD (European Tour):

Al Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Mark Chisholm, Matt Dunning, Rocky Elsom, Scott Fava, David Fitter, Adam Freier, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, George Gregan, Matt Henjak, Greg Holmes, Leroy Houston, Digby Ioane, Lloyd Johansson, Chris Latham, Hugh McMeniman, Drew Mitchell, Tatafu Polota-Nau, John Roe, Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Nathan Sharpe, Cameron Shepherd, George Smith, Lote Tuqiri, Morgan Turinui, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Phil Waugh, Chris Whitaker.