23-year-old Jacob Stockdale is best known for the historic second-half try that helped secure Ireland’s first-ever win on Irish soil against the legendary All-Blacks. Recently revealed as Maxol’s brand ambassador for the next three years, he met up with Donna Ahern to talk about his new role
What does securing the role as Maxol’s first brand ambassador mean to you?
Maxol is an iconic, fourth-generation family-owned and community-based business.
A lot of the Maxol values fit with my values. For example, family is a massive part of my life, and they want me to get involved in a lot of family-oriented activities and initiatives, so it made a lot of sense to me.
What advice would you give to any aspiring young rugby players?
I was very small when I was younger and then I had a growth spurt and it made me realise that you never know how big or small you're going to be when you're older.
So the only thing you can really control is the development of your skills. Being able to pass and kick as best you can off both feet and both hands is massive for any position that you are in on the rugby pitch.
If you’ve got those core skills, that gives you versatility, so working on acquiring those skills has to be a priority if you are aspiring to a career in rugby.
Can you tell me what scoring that try against the All Blacks in November 2018 means to you?
It was a pretty special moment for me and not just because I scored the try - to be able to beat New Zealand, as well, was very special.
And it is important to remember that it wasn't just my try - there was 79 minutes and 55 seconds of lads working together to make sure that we won it.
I have been sent videos of young people practicing in their backyard, trying to recreate the victory, which is very flattering.
It also shows how young people can be inspired to show an interest in and/or ultimately pursue a sporting career by what they see on the field of play.
And, given Maxol’s involvement with the mini rugby tournaments in Ulster, hopefully my coming on board as brand ambassador will dovetail nicely with Maxol’s objectives - and help to generate even more interest and involvement in rugby among young people in Ulster.
Aside from the try against New Zealand, do you have other career highlights to date?
Winning the Six Nations and the Grand Slam in 2018 were really special moments.
It was actually the first piece of rugby silverware that I’ve ever won, so to be able to do that was terrific.
In relation to the Rugby World Cup, which teams are the ones to watch?
I think it’s hard to look past New Zealand.
They’ve got a pedigree in the World Cup for the last couple of years, and they did pretty well in it.
I think England and Wales are two teams that were hitting their strides in the Six Nations, so those teams will see themselves as being in serious contention for the World Cup.
So, there’s a couple of teams in the mix that are definitely ones to watch.
I heard recently that you can play the guitar. What is the song that you are most likely to play?
I can play a bit of Fast Car by Tracy Chapman.
That’s my go to piece but I’m afraid I’m not the most talented of guitarists. I do it for a bit of craic.
It’s something I enjoy and I do it to relax.
© 2019 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.
