Jacqui wanted to ‘scale back on work’... but then Sunday Game offers her iconic role
RTÉ presenter lands dream job
RTÉ SPORTS presenter Jacqui Hurley has u-turned on her plans to quit her long-running radio post after the station offered her the dream job.
Earlier this month Ms Hurley announced she was resigning from her post as the first woman to anchor RTÉ Radio One’s Sunday Sport show, but station bosses have tempted her back to host the prestigious Sunday Game highlights programme.
Corkwoman Ms Hurley had said in an interview published yesterday that she left Sunday Sport after 14 years so she could spend weekends with her children Luke, eight, and Lily, five.
Then, yesterday morning, RTÉ announced the news of Ms Hurley’s new appointment.
Her move to take over from veteran RTÉ sports presenter Des Cahill is just one of several changes being made by the broadcaster to its sports coverage, including the upcoming GAA season.
Mr Cahill departed from the broadcaster’s flagship GAA programme last October after 15 years in the hot seat.
Mr Hurley’s skill as a broadcaster also earned her the job of hosting RTÉ’s rugby coverage, presenting the Guinness Six Nations rugby programme.
She said of her new job: ‘Working on The Sunday Game was a childhood dream of mine.
‘It’s an absolute privilege to take on such an iconic role and follow in the footsteps of some incredible broadcasters.
‘I look forward to the challenge and can’t wait to get started.’
However, in an interview published yesterday, Ms Hurley, 39, said she was stepping back from her role on Sunday Sport and in RTÉ because she was trying to get some balance back in her life between her hectic work schedule and family life.
She said: ‘Work is still incredibly important to me – none of that has changed. I’m still doing an awful lot of work. I don’t see this as a step back or a risk in stepping away from my job.
‘This is actually just a real direct conversation with my bosses, saying: “I cannot do all the things that you want me to do. Let’s look at this together.”’
In addition to Ms Hurley’s move to the Sunday Game highlights hot seat, RTÉ has also announced that presenter Damian Lawlor will be taking over The Saturday Game highlights.
It is also adding several new GAA pundits, including former Galway hurler Joe Canning, former Tyrone footballer Peter Canavan, former Dublin footballer Paul Flynn, retired Mayo footballer Lee Keegan, retired Clare footballer David Tubridy, and former Tyrone footballer Enda McGinley, as well as the return of former Kerry footballer Tomás Ó Sé.
Presenter Joanne Cantwell will continue to host both The Saturday Game Live and The Sunday Game Live.
Mr Lawlor told the Irish Daily Mail: ‘The new GAA fixture calendar has meant more intercounty games than ever within a condensed period.
‘This has given RTÉ Sport an opportunity to introduce The Saturday Game.
‘Along with our production team, I will do everything I can to ensure the programme develops into an unmissable, flagship show that delivers the best insight and analysis for our viewers.’
Declan McBennett, RTÉ group head of sport, said: ‘New presenters Jacqui, Damian and the new panellists are hugely experienced and perfectly placed to bring all of the excitement and analysis of the GAA Championship to our audience later this year.’
RTÉ has expanded its media rights, providing comprehensive GAA Championship coverage across RTÉ television, radio, and online for the next five seasons, guaranteeing free-to-air coverage to audiences in Ireland across 12 months of the year from 2023 to 2027 inclusive.
The broadcaster will continue to show 31 championship games across the island of Ireland on RTÉ television and RTÉ Player, as well as the Joe McDonagh Cup final and both the Tailteann Cup semi-finals and final for the next five years. Nine live matches will be televised per year.
Increased free-to-air Allianz National League games, which commence next Saturday, January 28, as well as continued coverage of the AIB Club Championships, will feature on Saturday nights, ensuring yearround live GAA coverage across all platforms on RTÉ.
‘It is a childhood dream of mine’