Mountain Ash player Sean in Wales call-up
A MOUNTAIN Ash rugby star who began the season with his home club has just been called up to play for his country in this summer’s World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
Sean Moore, 19, is a product of his local club Mountain Ash RFC, and juggles his rugby career with being an operative at GE Aviation.
Things have really escalated for him in the past year, with a call-up to the senior Pontypridd squad and selection for Wales’ Under-20 squad to face England, before the lock received the latest piece of good news.
Taking to Twitter, his home club Mountain Ash RFC said: “Many congratulations to Sean Moore on his selection for the Wales squad for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship #mountboy #oleoleole.”
Speaking to the WRU in February before his Wales debut, 6ft 4in Moore said: “I’ve played for Mountain Ash since I was about seven and worked my way up all the way through. I was captain of the youth side last year, but everything took off for me about eight months ago.”
He had taken up the invitation to train with Bridgend Ravens before a phone call from closer to home, via former Wales international Robert Sidoli, turned into an offer from Pontypridd.
“It was a dual contract between Pontypridd and Mountain Ash, meaning that I can play for both – so it’s a winwin for me.
“It’s nice to go back and play alongside the boys who were my teammates when I was a kid.”
Having not yet had any regional involvement, Moore’s route to the national side is more unusual than most, and he said: “I didn’t even get into the Ponty District U15s, so it’s fair to say the last few months have gone very quickly!
“I’ve started to get a lot more knowledgeable about certain things, especially the lineouts, and I’m enjoying it.
“I’m learning more of the technical stuff all the time. Whether it’s with Mountain Ash, Pontypridd or here with Wales U20, everything they teach you, they teach you for a reason, so I take it all on board.”
Moore is eager to learn all over the field, and currently in the second year of his apprenticeship with GE Aviation at its plant in Nantgarw.
Describing his current role, he said: “Airlines send their engines in and we strip them down, give them a full service, test them and send them back. Work have been really good with giving me time off for my rugby too, which I really appreciate.”
It has not all been plain sailing for Moore however, and upon being called up to the Wales U20 camp last year, he suffered an injury, and feared his chances were over.
“A week before the camp I went over on my ankle and strained all the ligaments, so I was able to attend but I couldn’t train. It was my first big opportunity and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Then, he was invited for a squad get together, but could not attend as he was in the Pontypridd squad to play RGC.
He said: “Then when the Six Nations squad was announced I wasn’t included in the original list, so now I’m just glad to have been named in the starting team for these latest two games.”
He added: “At the start of the season I thought I was going to be playing for Mountain Ash, so to be representing my country is crazy. The team environment is really good, and I’ve been getting to know all the boys. I know some of them from playing against them when I was younger, but some of them I’ve only known since I linked up with the squad.”
Wales U20 will welcome Scotland U20 to the Brewery Field in Bridgend on May 16 for a warm up match before kicking off the tournament, taking place in Georgia, against Australia on May 31. They will then play England and Samoa.
“I’m learning more of the technical stuff all the time. Whether it’s with Mountain Ash, Pontypridd or here with Wales U20” Sean Moore, from Mountain Ash