Ulster out-half Abby Moyles open to follow in footsteps of uncle Anthony
Abby Moyles
REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Bank of Ireland Announces New five-year Extensions of its Sponsorships of the Four Irish Rugby Provinces 17/4/2024 Bank of Ireland today announced new five-year extensions of its sponsorships of the four Irish Rugby provinces, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to the game across all levels in Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The new agreements, all to run until 2028, represent the most comprehensive sponsorship of Men’s and Women’s sport in Ireland. They see Bank of Ireland broaden its support from the grassroots, schools and clubs right up to the Provincial and Ireland Men’s and Women’s teams. Pictured at the announcement of this sponsorship extension were Connacht Rugby’s Mack Hansen, Byron Ralston and Ava Ryder, Ulster Rugby’s Jacob Stockdale, Rob Herring and Abby Moyles, Munster Rugby’s Kate Flannery, John Ryan and Paddy Patterson and Leinster Rugby’s Jamison Gibson-Park, Josh van der Flier, Aimee Clarke Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Ulster out-half Abby Moyles is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her uncle Anthony by forging a successful sporting career for herself.
The former Meath football captain won a Leinster title in 2010, and is now a big supporter of his niece Abby, who joined Ulster last summer.
“My uncle Anthony Moyles played with Meath for a while and then my Granddad and other uncle played hurling with Dublin,” Abby said of her family’s sporting heritage.
“I would have gone to a few of Anthony’s games. Now I would have been quite young when he was involved so it was paying attention, but I wasn't really paying attention, you know?
“But I remember standing outside my nanny's house decked out in Meath gear, holding flags and cheering as he's going to games. It was good craic.”
Abby has a strong GAA background of her own, and while the Trim native also played soccer, she decided to pursue her dream of playing rugby for Ireland.
“I played up to county minor level then I switched over and focused mainly on the rugby,” Moyles explained.
“I was a (soccer) keeper with Balrath and Trim Celtic for a while.
“I started off playing rugby with Navan underage and then I moved to Blackrock for my senior rugby.
“I was involved for a little bit with Leinster but it wasn't the right fit, then I got the opportunity to go up to Ulster and said 'why not?'
REPRO FREE ***PRESS RELEASE NO REPRODUCTION FEE*** EDITORIAL USE ONLY Bank of Ireland Announces New five-year Extensions of its Sponsorships of the Four Irish Rugby Provinces 17/4/2024 Bank of Ireland today announced new five-year extensions of its sponsorships of the four Irish Rugby provinces, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to the game across all levels in Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster. The new agreements, all to run until 2028, represent the most comprehensive sponsorship of Men’s and Women’s sport in Ireland. They see Bank of Ireland broaden its support from the grassroots, schools and clubs right up to the Provincial and Ireland Men’s and Women’s teams. Pictured at the announcement of this sponsorship extension were Connacht Rugby’s Mack Hansen, Byron Ralston and Ava Ryder, Ulster Rugby’s Jacob Stockdale, Rob Herring and Abby Moyles, Munster Rugby’s Kate Flannery, John Ryan and Paddy Patterson and Leinster Rugby’s Jamison Gibson-Park, Josh van der Flier, Aimee Clarke Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
“So I just gave it a go, went up and loved it. I was welcomed in and everybody made me feel comfortable so I haven't looked back.
“I was part of the Celtic Challenge squad there in January. That was really good, a good competition, getting to play against the Scottish and the Welsh teams, and then the U-20s is coming up so I'm in the extended squad. It's going well.”
A strong kicker, Moyles believes playing Gaelic football and soccer has stood to her, as she looks to push on with Ulster, and then hopefully, with Ireland too.
“Yeah, with the Gaelic definitely,” she continued.
“And I played camogie as well so the hand-eye coordination transferred over. But yeah, the Gaelic in terms of kicking, catching, thinking on your feet, because like rugby it's a fast-paced game so those skills all transferred over.
“I liked all of them the same but rugby, I got more of a buzz from it. The football is non-contact, well not really, but I liked that contact element of the game and I liked playing at out-half. I actually started off on the wing but then I moved to out-half so I liked having that control and all that stuff.
“I just enjoyed it and you kind of become part of a family when you're on a rugby team, so I liked that aspect of it as well.”
Today's Sport News in 90 Seconds - 19th April
Moyles is currently taking a year out from her aircraft engineering degree, and as she applies for apprenticeships, she is hoping both careers soon take flight.
“I didn't really know exactly what I wanted to do after my Leaving Cert, so I said I'm not going to jump straight into a college course or something like that if I'm not sure I really want to do it,” Moyles added.
“So I said I'd take a gap year, figure it out and just work and then see if I can figure out what I want to do.”
