Rugby: Former Love Island TV show winner Greg O'Shea heading to Tokyo 2020 Olympics
From the bottom tier of European Sevens Rugby to securing qualification for Tokyo 2020 in 2021, the Irish rugby sevens team have been on a rollercoaster ride, but none perhaps more so than squad member and viral reality star Greg O’Shea.
Rugby Sevens
Celebrity life coupled up with endorsements and sponsorship deals once beckoned Irish rugby sevens player Greg O’Shea.
In 2019, the man from Limerick won British hit reality show Love Island. A record-breaking 3.6 million tuned in live to see O’Shea crowned co-winner alongside Amber Gill.
Speaking exclusively to Olympics.com back in April last year, O'Shea revealed that the allure of rugby was over and above the prospect of being the UK's "it-man," saying "I've been working for so long for this goal in rugby and to get to the Olympics and play in the World [Rugby Sevens] Series."
Now, that dream is becoming a reality, after the Ireland team qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Games in 2021, and he was selected to the squad.
Ireland's dramatic Olympic rugby qualification for Tokyo
Now O’Shea will entertain an altogether different kind of audience after Ireland’s rugby sevens team successfully qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021, following a dramatic final win against France (28-19) in the World Rugby Repechage qualifier ahead of the Games.
Down 7-12 at half-time in Monaco, the Irish rallied hard to overcome the tournament favourites and book their tickets to Tokyo.
For a man who once competed for love, O’Shea has already won his place in the hearts of Irish rugby fans.
On securing the 12th and final spot in the men’s sevens competition in Japan’s capital, he and his teammates have created history Ireland. The men’s team will represent their country for the very first time in rugby at the Games.
From Love Island to Ireland
It is not just O’Shea’s flirtation with reality television that makes his selection for this summer’s Games so remarkable. The rugby player had been fighting injury niggles in the lead up to the last-gasp tournament and initially wasn’t selected to play.
O’Shea only featured in the team after teammate Gavin Mullin picked up a knock enabling him to come in as a late replacement call-up. He is now officially in the squad heading to Tokyo.
Speaking to the Limerick Leader afterwards, he shared:
“The Olympics is the pinnacle of sport, so to represent Ireland at the Games is a huge honour and it means even more to be there alongside my mates.”
The Olympic men’s rugby sevens competition will take place from 26-28 July and will be staged in the Tokyo Stadium.