{{Short description|Ireland international rugby union player (born 1972)}} {{Use British English|date=April 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Liam Mooney | image = Liam Mooney.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Liam Thomas Mooney | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|5|18}} | birth_place = Gosport, Hampshire, England | relatives = Fred Tiedt | occupation = Entrepreneur | death_date = | death_place = | height = | weight = | position = Prop | amatyears1 = 1992–1996 | amatyears2 = 1994–1995 | amatteam1 = London Irish | amatteam2 = Cambridge University | ru_amupdate = | ru_ntupdate = | years1 = 1996–1998 | years2 = 1998–1999 | years3 = 1999–2001 | clubs1 = London Irish | clubs2 = Blackheath | clubs3 = Exeter Chiefs | repyears1 = 199x–199x | repyears2 = 1996–2000 | repteam1 = Ireland Students | repteam2 = Ireland XV | repteam3 = Barbarians | repteam4 = England Counties XV | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | apps1 = 39 | apps2 = 20 | apps3 = 55 | points1 = 0 | points2 = 0 | points3 = 70 | ru_clubupdate = | ru_currentclub = | coachteams1 = | coachyears1 = | ru_coachupdate = }}
'''Liam Thomas Mooney''' (born 18 May 1972) is a former professional rugby union footballer who played at prop. He is now an entrepreneur living in Guernsey with his wife and son.
== Education == Mooney was educated at St Boniface's Catholic College, Plymouth<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stbonifaces.com/alumni/old-boys |title=St Boniface's Catholic College, Old Boys, 1983–1989 |access-date=15 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209102658/http://www.stbonifaces.com/alumni/old-boys |archive-date=9 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and graduated from the University of Cambridge (Hughes Hall) in 1996.<ref>[http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2000-01/weekly/5854/34.html "University of Cambridge graduation list, 1996"]</ref><ref>Hughes Hall website list of Notable Alumni</ref>
== Rugby career == Mooney began his rugby career with London Irish in 1992, making his debut as a prop against Bath aged 20 years old.<ref>The Independent, Club Guide</ref><ref>[http://www.london-irish.co.uk/oldboys.php?fn=byletter&letter=M London Irish Old Boys Database]</ref> He represented London Irish in both premiership and European competitions.<ref>European Professional Club Rugby Player Archive</ref> Mooney played in the club's biggest premiership win, beating Harlequin F.C. 62–14 in April 1998.<ref>Talk Rugby Union, London Irish Rugby Union Club Records</ref> He was a member of the promotion winning team that took London Irish to the English Premiership in 1996,<ref>1995–96 Courage League National Division Two</ref> as well as the semi-final of the Pilkington Cup, under the leadership of Sir Clive Woodward. He moved on to play for Blackheath (1998–1999)<ref>The Independent, Rugby Union Division 2 Teams</ref> and Exeter Chiefs (1999–2001).<ref>[http://rugby.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeLeadingScorers?comp_code=5730117&club_id=16 Rugby Statbunker, RFU Championship Exeter Chiefs All time leading scorers]</ref> From 1996 in the professional era, Mooney scored 14 tries and made over 100 appearances for his clubs.<ref>[http://rugby.statbunker.com/players/getPlayerStats?player_id=1588 StatBunker, Rugby Stats – Liam Mooney, 1996–2001]</ref> While at Exeter, he played for the English National Divisions and scored the winning try against the Springboks on their 2000 tour of the UK.<ref>The Telegraph, Divisions make point</ref> During his career, Mooney represented Ireland XV (vs Leinster 1996), Ireland A, Ireland U21, Ireland Students, the Barbarians<ref>Official Home of the Barbarians, Player Archive</ref> and won two Cambridge Blues representing Cambridge University in the winning 1994 and 1995 Varsity matches.<ref>Media Store House, Liam Mooney on the charge for Cambridge – Varsity Match</ref><ref>EPCRugby, Match Report, Oct</ref> He finished his rugby career at Bristol and Caerphilly where he retired with a chronic knee injury.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/celtic/1732170.stm BBC Sport, Tough task for Caerphilly, Dec 2001]</ref>
== Business career == Mooney qualified as a solicitor of England & Wales in November 2000, having trained and worked at international law firm Kennedys and regional legal 500 law firm, Michelmores. In 2002, Mooney founded Blue Pencil, an international legal executive search and recruitment company, where he is currently the managing director.<ref>[http://www.bluepencil-legal.com Blue Pencil Legal, an international legal executive search and recruitment consultancy, Founded 2002]</ref> Blue Pencil is mentioned in Sidney Korshak's book "How to Land a Legal Job Overseas".<ref>Amazon.com – How to Land a Legal Job Overseas by Sidney Korshak</ref>
In November 2014, he was named by Arabian Business as 'Business Mentor of the Year'<ref>[http://www.arabianbusiness.com//revealed-winners-of-2nd-arabian-business-startup-awards-573331.html Arabian Business, Winners of 2nd Arabian Business StartUp Awards, Nov 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/and-winner-is-2014-s-richest-most-powerful-those-destined-be-stars-of-future-576013.html#.VOLq6PmsWSr Arabian Business, 2014's richest, most powerful and those destined to be the stars of the future, Dec 2014]</ref><ref>[http://www.arabianbusiness.com/photos/winners-of-arabian-business-startup-awards-2014-573321.html?img=8 Winners of Arabian Business StartUp Awards, Nov 2014]</ref> and was a finalist at the SME Stars of Business Awards in December 2014.<ref>Stars of Business Awards</ref><ref>Arabian Business Startup and Rising Stars of Business Awards</ref>
In August 2015, Mooney was named as a finalist in the Gulf Capital SME Awards, as the “Business Leader of the Year”.<ref>2015 Gulf Capital SME Awards finalists announced</ref>
== The Business End == Mooney is the co-founder and host of '''The Business End''', a sports-business leadership network and podcast launched with former Ireland international Justin Fitzpatrick. The platform explores how lessons from elite sport apply to business and leadership, featuring international sports people and business leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Lawrence |date=2025-08-20 |title=Ireland great accuses Andy Farrell's Lions and the All Blacks of playing 'awful' rugby |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/ireland-great-accuses-andy-farrells-lions-and-the-all-blacks-of-playing-awful-rugby-claiming-its-a-bit-sad |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Planet Rugby |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nolan |first=Lawrence |date=2025-08-27 |title='Messed around' ex-England coach recalls bizarre expenses row |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/messed-around-ex-england-coach-recalls-bizarre-expenses-row-with-an-rfu-last-word-freak |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Planet Rugby |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Heagney |first=Liam |date=2025-09-30 |title=Ex-Ireland international's 'not proud' reflection on playing with 24 concussions in final season |url=https://www.planetrugby.com/news/ex-ireland-internationals-not-proud-reflection-on-playing-with-24-concussions-in-final-season-and-his-kicked-out-of-the-building-row-with-michael-cheika |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=Planet Rugby |language=en}}</ref>
Through live events — including ''The Business End Live Lunch'' series held in London and internationally — the initiative connects senior business leaders, investors, and athletes whilst promoting the message of sport to business.
== Donations and Scholarships ==
A lifetime member of Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club (CURUFC), and a donor of the CURUFC's Red Lion Foundation, set up to support rugby players through their studies at the university, Mooney made a charitable donation to fund the Lion's Room in 2013.<ref>CURUFC, Donations</ref>
Mooney has also a law scholarship for talented students looking to do an LLM at [https://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/study-with-us/scholarships/ Hughes Hall, Cambridge University],<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Hughes Hall PhD Scholarships|url=https://www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/study-with-us/scholarships/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=Hughes Hall University of Cambridge}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mooney, Liam}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Hughes Hall, Cambridge Category:Barbarian F.C. players Category:Blackheath F.C. players Category:British expatriate sportspeople in Monaco Category:Businesspeople from Dubai Category:Cambridge University R.U.F.C. players Category:English businesspeople Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Monaco Category:English rugby union players Category:Exeter Chiefs players Category:Ireland Wolfhounds international rugby union players Category:Irish Exiles rugby union players Category:London Irish players Category:Rugby union players from Hampshire Category:Sportspeople from Gosport Category:Rugby union props