Wales look set for a tug-of-war over Moore
HE is viewed as one of the brightest hopes for the future in English rugby right now. But Sam Moore was born in Cardiff, his dad Steve played for Wales and so did his uncle Andy, who even skippered the Welsh national team.
Welsh blood is coursing through his veins, then, but the young Sale star has been educated over the Severn Bridge and has featured for England throughout the age-grades up to Under-19s.
That the former Everton Football Club academy player of the year has immense talent as a sportsman isn’t in doubt.
Welcoming him into the senior set-up at Sale Sharks after his graduation through their development system, director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “He comes with a magnificent reputation. His impact in games is massive.”
Moore is a No.8 for the modern game, strong and fleet-footed but skilful with it.
So highly was he rated as a junior that he found himself propelled into the Waterloo RFC team as a 15-yearold.
He subsequently stepped up to the Sale Sharks Academy and has banked 10 appearances in age-grade rugby for England, leading their Under-18s team last season and scoring four tries, including two against Wales at Ebbw Vale in March.
But who the precocious No.8 will pledge his allegiance to in rugby terms is still not certain.
Wales were in touch before their recent autumn internationals but Moore is still mulling over his options and didn’t feel ready to make a decision.
His dad Steve explained: “Sam is still young and does not have to decide anything right now.
“He is only just starting out in senior rugby and knows he has a lot of work to do before he gets close to realising his full potential.
“He is a grounded kid who is taking nothing whatsoever for granted.
“As a player in England’s age-grade teams since the age of 15, he has made a lot of friends along the way and he is hugely comfortable in Sale’s set-up.
“Wales picked up on him after his performances in the international Under-18s competition in South Africa in the summer, when he came away as player of the tournament.
“Of course he feels some allegiance to Wales. He has been to the Principality Stadium with me and Andy to watch matches and I would defy anyone not to be stirred when the crowd are singing the national anthem. He was born in Wales and he knows I played for them and so did Andy.
“But his England ties are strong as well, so he hasn’t committed either way. His focus right now is on becoming the very best player he can be.”
Wales are lacking depth at No.8 and need to start developing options other than Faletau in the position. At 27, the Lions Test man is in his prime, but he has picked up a number of injuries in recent seasons which have stretched Welsh resources.
Ross Moriarty covered there for much of last season and did an excellent job, but the Dragonsbound player prefers to operate at blindside flanker.
While it is still early for Moore junior, he has shown huge potential and the Wales management have evidently seen enough to suggest he is the genuine article.
Earlier this season, the Rugby Football Union pledged to complain to World Rugby to prevent Wales and other countries targeting players at English club academies.
But the Welsh Rugby Union were having none of it and issued a rapid response, pointing to the large number of young Welsh players who are being lured across the border by free scholarships at English fee-paying schools and colleges – with 19 Welsh-qualified players currently at one institution.
The certainty is the governing body in Wales would be missing a beat if they didn’t try to court Moore.
His dad achieved an everlasting position in Welsh rugby’s history when he scored the final try in a major game at the old National Stadium, for Swansea in the 1997 Welsh Cup final against Cardiff.