Grace Moore on being a LooseHeadz ambassador

Irish international Grace Moore discusses her involvement with rugby mental health charity LooseHeadz and why she wants to give back

Friday 10 October is World Mental Health Day. The theme for 2025 – ‘Mental health in humanitarian emergencies’ – emphasises the need for readily available mental health support in times of crises.

This international day is for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.

Irish international and Trailfinders Women forward Grace Moore discussed her own mental health journey and her involvement with LooseHeadz, rugby’s mental health charity.

“I’m a LooseHeadz ambassador,” Moore said. “I got into it because there was a time when I was struggling with my mental health.

“There was a time in my life where I was depressed, and I didn’t want to live anymore. I was really struggling.

“Rugby was basically my saving grace. If I didn’t have rugby, I don’t know where I’d be today.”

Moore commented on how the support network within rugby alongside her family and friends helped her during that time.

“Rugby really did help me get out of that dark hole, and my friends and family were a huge part of my journey.

“Rugby is an escape for me. It’s a safe place. Sure the highs in sports can be really high and the lows can be really low. It’s not always smooth sailing. My career has not been linear at all.

“There have been times where I did want to give up rugby, where I felt that was my option. But I’m a fire – I don’t give up, and I’ll keep coming back.

“I’m not anywhere near where I want to be in my career yet from a rugby perspective, so I feel like the only way for me is up and I just keep pushing towards that.

“I got involved with LooseHeadz because of my journey. I feel like mental health is such a huge thing and sometimes it’s overlooked. There used to not be enough support out there. There probably could still be a bit more support out there.”

Moore added that at Trailfinders Women, Kim Oliver has helped her and many of the other players with any mental health related questions or struggles.

“We have Kim at the Club. We can rely on her and the wider services she can offer us. She supports us through anything we might need. She’s great. I even reached out to her during the Rugby World Cup to talk.”

“Kim is an amazing person. She also has huge experience in rugby as well from both a player and coaches’ perspective.

“I want to be like that and give back to the younger generation as well as people who are my age and beyond.

“A huge part of my why with rugby is to inspire others and to leave the jersey in a better place than I found it.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, click here.

For more information on LooseHeadz and the work they do, click here.