Hugo Keenan will make his first start for the Lions on Wednesday Twelve months ago, Hugo Keenan was preparing for the Paris Olympics as a member of the Ireland Rugby 7s squad. Now heâs ready to stake his claim for a British and Irish Lions test place and in doing so is creating a little bit of history. When the Ireland full-back steps onto the pitch to face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday, he will become the first Irish player to represent his country at the Olympics and the Lions. âI wouldn't compare one to the other. What comparison I would make is that when you come into a new squad it was deja vu to that nearly butterfly feeling in your stomach of the nerves of meeting guys you hadn't known before,â explained Keenan. âIt was similar in the Sevens squad. I knew maybe 50% of the lads in the squad and had close bonds with them similar to the Lions where you know all your country teammates and you've come across a few others along the way. âBut then there's also new lads here you need to get to know and build up those connections and I'm definitely taking some of the learnings I have from going off to a new team, a new squad, a new sport in one sense in the case of the Sevens and trying to bring it into the Lions. âI've been lucky to have been a part of that Olympic journey and I'm lucky to be here today on this Lions journey. Just feeling very privileged.â The Ireland full-back has been sidelined with a calf injury that caused him to miss Leinsterâs end-of-season win in the United Rugby Championship and has led to a frustrating beginning to his Lions tour. In his absence and that of Blair Kinghorn, who arrives in Brisbane on Monday evening following Toulouseâs win in the Top 14, the battle for the full-back shirt in the Test matches is wide open after Englandâs Elliot Daly stepped up against the Western Force by scoring two tries and putting in an impressive performance. âIt's been a frustrating couple of weeks missing out on the final with Leinster and then maybe not being able to participate as much at the start of this tour as I would have liked. âBut I'm excited now to put on the red jersey and looking forward to it. Thankfully the tour was never really in doubt and we were always targeting the Reds game, so thankfully it's been pretty smooth sailing.â
From the Olympics to the Lions - Keenan ready to make history
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Hugo Keenan to Make Historic First Start for Lions Against Queensland Reds"
Bbc News
8.5
TruthLens AI Summary
Hugo Keenan is set to make his debut start for the British and Irish Lions as they prepare to face the Queensland Reds. This momentous occasion marks a historic milestone, as Keenan will become the first Irish player to represent his country both at the Olympics and in the Lions. A year ago, he was gearing up for the Paris Olympics as part of the Ireland Rugby 7s squad, and now he is poised to make his mark on the rugby union stage. Reflecting on this transition, Keenan expressed that while he wouldn't directly compare the two experiences, he feels a sense of familiarity in joining a new squad. He noted the nerves associated with meeting new teammates and building connections, drawing parallels between his experiences in both the Sevens and Lions squads. Keenan is eager to leverage the lessons he learned from his Olympic journey as he embarks on this new chapter with the Lions, feeling privileged to be part of such a prestigious team.
Despite facing challenges due to a calf injury that sidelined him during crucial matches, including Leinster's victory in the United Rugby Championship, Keenan is optimistic about his role in the Lions tour. His absence, along with that of fellow player Blair Kinghorn, has opened the competition for the full-back position in the upcoming Test matches. Keenan acknowledged the frustrations of missing out on the final with Leinster and the slow start to the tour but is now looking forward to donning the red jersey and contributing to the team. He expressed relief that the tour has progressed smoothly and highlighted his excitement for the match against the Reds, indicating that this game has always been a target for him. With the battle for positions heating up, Keenan is determined to seize this opportunity and make a significant impact on the field.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.