Brian Moore (rugby union)

Brian C. Moore (born January 11 1962) is an English former rugby union footballer. He played as a hooker. He is currently a rugby presenter on the BBC.

Rugby career

As a youngster Moore attended the Crossley and Porter School. During his career, he played for Harlequins, Nottingham, Leeds and Richmond. He also represented England and the British and Irish Lions at international level. He was known for his combative playing style which earned him the nickname "Pitbull".

He won a total of 64 England caps between 1987 and 1995 making him the 13th most capped Englishman (as of July 2007). He played in three Rugby World Cups including the World Cup final against Australia at Twickenham in 1991 and was also a member of the England side that won Grand Slams in 1991, 1992 and 1995. In 1991 he was voted Rugby World Player of the Year (this was a decade before the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board, began its awards programme).

He went on two British Lions tours winning five caps. In Australia in 1989 the Lions won the series 2 - 1 and Brian was famously caught celebrating the following morning on Sydney Harbour Bridge doing aeroplane impressions.

Media career

He is now a commentator on the sport. Originally a City solicitor, and still qualified as such, [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/english/7350668.stm |title=Ashton ponders options after exit |publisher="BBC Sport" |date=2008-04-17 |accessdate=2008-04-22] he also writes a wine column in the Sun newspaper, At football, he supports Chelsea.

Moore is now best known as being Eddie Butler's 'side-kick' co-commentator on the BBC's rugby union coverage, including the Six Nations Championship. He is known for his annoying and insightful verbal stabs; in 2008 he was heard to yell, "They've kicked it away again, "for God's sake"!" when England were refusing to run with the ball in Rome, and shouted "You halfwit!" at an England forward who played a French re-start that had not gone the required ten metres, which caused England to lose possession where they would otherwise have been awarded a scrum.

Moore also writes a Monday and Thursday column for the Daily Telegraph which is also reproduced on the website Telegraph.co.uk.

Quotes

*New Zealand will not win the World Cup because it's the World Cup and they are New Zealand." During the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

*"They've kicked it away again, "for God's sake!" Italy v England, 10 February 2008

*"Eddie, you're not allowed to tread on people anymore; you should be allowed to tread on people but you're not." France v England, 23 February 2008.

*"You can't have people who are just there for running about, otherwise you just look like Australia." On the French front row, 23 February 2008.

*"There will be French props in the southwest of France smashing their pastis glassis on each other's heads at the moment." Again, on the French front row, 23 February 2008.

*"Not 10… Don't touch it, you halfwit." On Michael Lipman playing a short re-start kick, France v England, 23 February 2008.

*"One of the definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different outcome." On France's being repeatedly tackled into touch when passing wide, France v England, 23 February 2008.

*"Get up, footballer" - whenever a rugby player stays down after a mild tap.

*"It's like Man Utd v Liverpool, but without the diving and sissiness." (Leicester v Wasps, EDF Energy Cup Semi-Final 2008)

*"I don't know why they are clapping him, he's had a crap game" said during the Englandv France 6 nations match 2008 as a French player left the field

*"It must be National Not Catching Kick-Offs Day today." Gloucester v London Wasps, EDF Energy Cup Pool Match 2008

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?menuId=1087&menuItemId=8349&view=COLUMNIST&grid=F7&targetRule=10 Brian Moore's column in the Daily Telegraph] Telegraph.co.uk