The 28-year-old says it was ‘now or never’ to put his hand up for Olympic selection
Hugo Keenan in action for the Ireland Sevens side during an Olympic qualifier against Russia in Colomiers in July 2019. Photograph: Billy Stickland/Inphodescribes it as a bit like the first day back at school. That combination of giddy excitement, nervous anticipation and a slightly foreboding sense of the unknown.squad, who had already qualified for Paris more than a year in advance. He was returning to a game he hadn’t played in almost five years.
“I was putting pressure on myself, I knew there was ultimately a decision to be made, and I’d have to justify that selection. And pressure is pressure, no matter what way you look at it, and I think I hold myself to a high standard, no matter what form of game or no matter what level it is.” Hugo Keenan says the Ireland Sevens team will be serious medal contenders at Paris 2024. Photograph: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
“It was tough not being involved in Leinster closing out of the season with them, and after that, I suppose tough not being down in South Africa because you’d love to test yourself against the best team in the world, the World Cup champs, in their back yard. Keenan says he’s always been a huge fan of the Olympics, juggling rugby with athletics throughout his schooldays, and although older brother Robert was the star athlete in the family – and still the Blackrock College 100m record holder – he’s always been drawn to the Games.
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