Moore or less career is over
WALLABIES record-breaker Stephen Moore has cancelled plans for a final season at the Queensland Reds and will retire from all rugby at full-time in Sunday’s Test against Scotland in Edinburgh.
The veteran hooker had been mulling over the big decision for weeks before finally breaking the news to Wallabies teammates ahead of what will now be a career finale at Murrayfield.
After 15 seasons at the top level since his Super Rugby debut in 2003, Moore may just be 17 minutes of action away from hanging up his boots if his time as a replacement against England last weekend is repeated.
Moore will sign off at Murrayfield having played 129 Tests and 177 Super Rugby games, a devotion to Australian rugby (306 games) that is unmatched at the top level in the professional era.
Only Nathan Sharpe (288 games-116 Tests/162 Super Rugby), George Gregan (275 games-139/136) and the stillactive George Smith (268 games-111/157) come close.
It is astonishing longevity in Moore’s body-jarring position as scrum leader when there are so many former front-rowers living with shoulder joint replacements, fused vertebrae or arthritis.
Yesterday’s three-year deal for Jordan Uelese, 20, locks the Wallabies’ brightest new hooking prospect to Australian rugby and the Melbourne Rebels until the end of 2020.
Moore, 34, has been an ornament to the game with his high standards, dignity under stress, competitiveness and a 23-try record as a Super Rugby hooker that will take some topping.
The call is a U-turn on his July position when Moore announced his Test retirement plan but said he hoped to keep playing a part in “building success at the Reds and the development of the next generation of leaders”.
He captained the Reds five times in his 13-match return to the club this year when he was enthusiastic about the talent and effort for a far bigger 2018 after the poor four-win return this season.