Stuart McCloskey is being hailed as the closest Ireland has ever come to producing a player of NFL caliber. Recently, teammate Robert Baloucoune likened him to Aaron Rogers, the renowned quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, after McCloskey delivered a scoring pass to Baloucoune during a match against Italy. Furthermore, Tommy O”Brien praised McCloskey”s impressive 60-meter sprint to chase down Marcus Smith, likening it to a play straight out of an NFL tight end or safety”s playbook.
McCloskey, far from feeling offended by these comparisons, expressed his admiration for American sports. “I enjoy all the American sports, but I haven”t really played them. We did mess around with basketball a bit at Ulster, but that”s about it,” he remarked. He noted that while off-loading may not come easily to everyone, it is a skill he has developed over time. “It has always felt natural to me,” he added.
When asked about his influences, he mentioned Sonny Bill Williams, a star in both Rugby Union and Rugby League. “He was the GOAT, wasn”t he? I grew up watching him, and he significantly impacted how I view that aspect of the game,” McCloskey reflected, emphasizing how Williams shaped his playing style during his formative years.
Reflecting on his journey, McCloskey recalled his debut for Ireland in 2016 under coach Joe Schmidt. Many considered him to be the standout performer in a tough 10-21 loss, yet he found himself sidelined shortly after. “I don”t think he agreed with that,” he said with a shrug, acknowledging the disconnect with Schmidt. “I”m glad he”s not coaching here now, but I respect what he accomplished as a coach.”
Despite the disappointment of being dropped after his debut, McCloskey holds his first cap in high regard. “It was an incredible day, but looking back, it”s a bit tainted for me,” he admitted. “I had to wait another 18 months to play again, and I wasn”t entirely sure why.” He added, “But that”s water under the bridge; it”s something I can”t change.”
In a more recent context, McCloskey experienced another setback when, after starting the first three matches of the 2023 Grand Slam, he found himself absent from the lineup for the final two games. “I played 80 minutes in the game against Italy after facing Wales and France,” he explained. “After that, I think I had a calf injury, and Bundee Aki came back into the team and performed exceptionally well.” He acknowledged the competitive nature of the sport, recognizing Aki”s contributions over the following 18 months.
Regarding the Grand Slam medal he earned, McCloskey shared, “I have it somewhere; I”m not even sure if it says Grand Slam on it. The management team took a photo of all of us after, celebrating as Grand Slam winners on the pitch, which was really nice.” He plans to display the medal in due time.
Looking ahead, McCloskey is optimistic about being selected for the upcoming match against Wales next Friday. He understands all too well that nothing is guaranteed in the unpredictable world of sports.
