JACQUI Hurley described getting her Team Ireland basketball jersey as a “full circle moment” as she prepares to play in a tournament in Switzerland.
This week will see her line out in the Over-40s category at the FIMBA Maxibasketball World Championship in Ticino.
The Sunday Game presenter is heading to Switzerland this week[/caption]
Basketball is her first love in sporting terms[/caption]
The team in full[/caption]
Despite her hectic broadcasting schedule, she has kept up her playing commitments over the years in basketball in addition to going back playing ladies football after a decade-long break.
The 41-year-old represented Ireland internationally in basketball in her 20s before having to focus on her budding career with RTE.
Understandably this made this week’s milestone of being presented with her official Team Ireland kit all the more meaningful.
She reflected on Instagram: “Full circle moment to be heading off to play for Ireland again this week at @ticino2025.
“A real privilege to be able to do it at this stage of our lives & so special to get to play with so many former teammates again.
“Looking forward to making more memories with an incredible group at Basketball Ireland Masters!
“And never fear, there’s more tik-toks on the way in our downtime!!”
Earlier this year Hurley conducted an interview with RTE where she spoke about how her passion for playing the sport hasn’t waned over the years.
She remarked: “I turned 41 very recently and I reckon the football will have to go. I’ll move into a coaching role in that respect.
“But the basketball is something I’d like to play into my 50s.
“There are so many former Irish internationals that I’ve known down the years, and they are still playing.
“I’d love to play on an Irish Masters team and travel with them. Someday, hopefully.”
As if that wasn’t enough of a packed playing CV with which to boast of, she also played camogie for Cork in her 20s.
In that same interview she delved into how she has to be mindful of her natural biases when covering Gaelic Games.
She laughed: “Ah no, when Cork was playing in the All-Ireland hurling final last year, I was sitting beside Anthony Daly and we almost had to be separated.
“We did have great craic, but I’m emotionally invested in the GAA, and it can be very hard to detach myself.
“But you must keep bias separate. When the Cork camogie team won down the years – I would have played with a lot of them.
“But you must keep your emotions in check on air, because you’re a broadcaster and journalist first and foremost and have a job to do.”
