Rugby star Grace Moore took to social media to request support to fund two pairs of boots

International women’s rugby player Grace Moore, 27, representing the Irish women’s national rugby team while playing for Saracens Women, took to social media recently to seek a boot sponsor.

Moore, a UK native, made an online plea for assistance, requesting support to fund two pairs of boots for the upcoming season at a total cost of £400 ($495). Her teammate from Saracens Women also added that she needed financial help in securing a kit for the upcoming season.

After her online plea for a boot sponsor garnered nearly 800,000 views, Moore, the Saracens Women’s rugby player, announced that she had found a sponsor. However, her teammate Sydney Gregson stressed that she is also facing challenges in affording boots, according to the Daily Mail.

The athletes’ appeals raised surprise among many on social media, who questioned how players at the highest level, such as an Irish international like Moore, could face difficulties affording essential kit.

One commenter specifically questioned why the significant funding from Irish Rugby wasn’t covering such basic needs. Another stated that it “should never have come to this.” A third person criticized the situation, expressing disbelief that someone of Moore’s skills and experience had to ask for help, implying a sense of disappointment with the state of the game.

Following the success of her post, which even sparked a TikTok campaign, Moore expressed gratitude to those who shared and responded. She also expressed appreciation for the overwhelming support and revealed that she has successfully secured a sponsor and extended her thanks to the Twitter community.

Moore is a back-row player for Saracens Women in the Premiership Women’s Rugby League, the top tier in the UK.