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Milking shed to the big stage: Moorby's remarkable rise to All Blacks
The Rural Roundup • October 19th, 2026 12:33 pm
Josh Moorby | Photo: Dylan Davies/Photosport
For All Black Josh Moorby, some of his proudest rugby moments have been made even more special by having his farming, rugby die-hard family there to watch.
The Te Awamutu-born-and-raised winger who made his international Test debut in July, grew up on a dairy farm with more than 1,000 cattle, where rugby and farm work went hand in hand.
“Our family just loves rugby I guess and it's just such a cool cool thing to be a part of and to share them,” he told Sport Nation’s The Rural Roundup.
Josh Moorby goes over for a try during the Bledisloe Cup game between Wallabies v All Blacks | Photo: Raghavan Venugopal/Photosport
His one-year stint with Montpellier Hérault Rugby in France during 2024 meant games were often on at inconvenient hours back home, when the family had work to do on the farm.
“In France, obviously it's a completely different time zone flipped around. Morning is night and vice versa.
“So not many games they could come to live, obviously, and then even to watch it was pretty impossible, getting up to milk,” he explained.
“There was not really a time that year when I was playing for Montpelier, they could watch, but obviously now being home for the Hurricanes and in New Zealand, they can watch rugby at a time that suits them and they can come from the shed and have it recorded or watch it live.”
Moorby also described his excitement for his grandparents to all watch him play in the black jersey.
“I'm extremely lucky and grateful that both of my grandparents are still here and I'm able to share this moment with them.
"My mum's parents - Nana and Grandad, were at my debut game and then the following weekend against Ireland, Dad's parents were at the Eden Park match.”
Josh Moorby breaks the mould with unconventional All Blacks pathway | Scotty & Izzy
Moorby said he still enjoys returning to the farm and lend a hand.
“I love to go out to the shed and I guess help out where I can.
“It's nice to go back to where it sort of started and just what a normal day looks like for Mum and Dad.”
Listen to the full interview below:
