Stephen Moore will captain Australia at the Rugby World Cup
Monday 6 July 2015 07:29, UK
Stephen Moore has been reappointed Australia captain for 2015 and will lead the Wallabies at the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
Moore, Australia's all-time most capped hooker with 92 Tests, has been reinstated as skipper following a season-ending injury in his first outing in charge last year.
The 32-year-old was originally named to the post before the Wallabies played France in Brisbane last June, becoming Australia's 81st Test captain.
But the hooker played just one minute of the match before suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, which ruled him out of the remainder of the 2014 season.
"Stephen is not only a player who leads by example on the field, but he is a man who exemplifies the qualities of a Wallabies captain," Australia coach Michael Cheika said in a statement.
"It is a testament to his character that he has been able to overcome a setback and put himself in a position to lead his country again.
"He has a tremendous amount of respect not only from within this playing group, but across the board in our organisation and universally within the game."
Moore will be supported in the role by Michael Hooper and Test centurion Adam Ashley-Cooper, both named as vice-captains.
"Having spoken to the two vice-captains prior to Stephen, both of them couldn't have made a higher endorsement of Stephen to lead them personally, this playing group and our country," Cheika said.
Now in his 11th season of international rugby, Moore is the current ACT Brumbies skipper and he is excited to lead the Wallabies once again.
"It's an honour every time you get to wear the Wallabies jumper, and to be captain is extra special, but ultimately it's what you do with it that is most important," Moore said.
"It was extremely humbling to have the opportunity last year but it went very quickly, so to be given another chance to represent this group that has so many leaders is a privilege and something I hold dearly.
"I'm really excited about what we can achieve in the next four months."
The Wallabies begin their international season against South Africa in the Rugby Championship in Brisbane on July 18 ahead of the World Cup in England.
