Melbourne Storm has recently hosted two of Leinster Rugby’s most promising academy talents in a unique player exchange program at AAMI Park.
Dublin-based players Stephen Smyth and Ruben Moloney spent the past month in Melbourne as part of their ongoing career development, fully immersing themselves in Storm’s high-performance environment and training schedule.
Renowned for developing top Irish talent through its highly successful academy system, Leinster Rugby is one of Europe’s leading rugby union clubs. Leinster has won four European titles and eight domestic titles, establishing itself as a dominate force in both Irish and European rugby union.
The player exchange initiative, aimed at expanding athletic experience and fostering cross-code learning, saw Smyth and Moloney actively integrated into Storm’s NRL, Jersey Flegg, and Academy teams. They participated in training sessions and day-to-day operations, gaining hands-on experience in a professional rugby league setting.
The program provided the rugby union players with valuable insights into the life of an NRL athlete, offering fresh perspectives on training methodology, skill refinement, physical conditioning, and tactical preparation.
As part of the reciprocal agreement, Melbourne Storm will send two of their academy players to Dublin later this year. There, they will join the Leinster Rugby Academy to experience the structure, routines, and demands of a top-tier rugby union program—further strengthening the collaborative relationship between the two clubs.
Speaking about his experience at AAMI Park, Leinster hooker Stephen Smyth said: “It's been a great opportunity for myself to upgrade my craft and experience a completely different environment. The opportunity to travel to Melbourne and train with Storm, learning about their sport and club culture has been incredible.
“I’ve learnt so much about their professionalism, how the lads look after themselves, how they prepare to train and get ready for gameday. It’s been a hugely valuable experience, and I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Leinster utility back Ruben Moloney, added: “It’s been incredible being in the environment and throwing myself into a different code. I’ve really enjoyed meeting the lads and getting to know them. Storm has some of the best NRL players in Australia, so it’s been great to watch them and see how they operate, absorbing as much information as possible.
“Being an edge player in rugby union, it’s been great to work with Storm and their wingers, learning how they approach different situations, and watching the small things they do in training and games.”
Melbourne Storm Player Wellbeing Coordinator, Dylan Wolfgramm, said: “We’ve loved having Stephen and Ruben with us at Storm over the past few weeks. They’ve brought great energy, enthusiasm, and a fresh perspective on how both codes operate. Both are incredibly talented athletes and outstanding young men, and we’re proud to have played a role in their development.
“We’re excited to continue building our relationship with Leinster Rugby and look forward to sending two of our own academy players to Dublin later this year.”
