Big in Japan

As Ireland's rugby team finish up their preparations for the World Cup in Japan one Irish woman will be taking a keen interest in their journey.

Jacki Moran from Belturbet is representing Co Cavan on 'Ireland’s Ball', a Vodafone promotional ball that will be officially presented to the team before their departure.

Vodafone Ireland, the official sponsor of the Irish Rugby team, in partnership with Gilbert created a world first ball grip that features the fingerprints of 32 people representing the 32 counties of Ireland.

Representing Cavan on Ireland’s Ball is Jacki Moran. Jacki is sales manager for the O’Callaghan Collection hotels in Dublin which occasionally allows her to cheer on the boys in green with clients and colleagues at The Aviva Stadium.

When Jacki’s not busy with work and friends, she loves to travel and explore new places, but always makes sure to keep up with all of the sporting action from back home. Nothing gives Jacki more enjoyment than watching Ireland play the old enemy with everything on the line.

Ireland’s Ball is a unique rugby ball that celebrates the diverse fabric of modern Irish society. The 32 people selected to contribute their fingerprint to Ireland’s Ball represent Irish rugby fans and the #TeamOfUs from every corner of the country. Ireland’s Ball will travel to Japan with the team as a symbol of the #TeamOfUs support for Irish Rugby from fans in Ireland and around the world.

Other contributors to the ball include Maeve Cox (Meath), the first baby born in Ireland in 2019; Ciara Griffin (Kerry), Captain of the Women’s Rugby team; John Burke (Clare), who summited Everest in 2017; Brian John Spencer an artist from Belfast and Matt NiGrioffa (Connemara) an Irish speaking lobster fisherman and founding member of An Ghaeltacht Rugbaí, the only Irish speaking rugby team in the world.