From the Olympics to the Lions; Keenan ready to make history

Twelve months ago, Hugo Keenan was preparing for the Paris Olympics as a member of the Ireland Rugby 7s squad.

Now he’s 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.

“I wouldn't compare one to the other. I suppose 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,” explained Keenan.

”It 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.

“But then there's also new lads here you need to get to know and build up those connections and yeah 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.

“I'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.”

The Ireland full-back has been sidelined with a calf injury that caused him to miss Leinster’s 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 Toulouse’s win in the Top 14, the battle for the full back shirt in the test matches is wide open with England’s Elliot Daly stepping up against the Western Force, scoring two tries and putting in an impressive performance.

“It'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.

“But 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 yeah thankfully it's been pretty smooth sailing.”