24-05-2025
‘Such a privilege' – RTE Sport host Jacqui Hurley to PLAY for Ireland internationally as she reveals prowess
JACQUI Hurley has shared her pride at being selected to play for Ireland's Over-40s basketball team in Switzerland this summer.
The versatile broadcaster is mostly associated with Gaelic Games and rugby union owing to her
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She took over from Des Cahill as host of The Sunday Game in 2023
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The 41-year-old plays for Meteors Ladies Basketball Club
Credit: @jacquihurley7
However, she has also had a lifelong passion for basketball and represented Ireland at underage level and into her 20s before she prioritised her budding media career with
Evidently she's been in fine form for her local club side as she's been chosen to line out for an Irish Over-40s side at the 17th FIMBA World Maxibasketball Championships.
Reposting Basketball Ireland's
"Looking forward to making more memories with a phenomenal group of women."
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Earlier this year Hurley
That's especially impressive considering she also still plays ladies football
She reflected: "I turned 41 very recently and I reckon the football will have to go.
"I'll move into a coaching role in that respect.
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"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.
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"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."
