Fionn O'Hara has joined Aussie rules side Hawthorn.
The Westmeath teenager has signed a two-year deal with the Melbourne club.
"Standing at 186cm tall and weighing in at 81kg, the 19-year-old O’Hara possesses the rare combination of elite speed and endurance," Hawthorn said in a statement.
The multi-talented O'Hara has played at underage level for his county and at senior level for his club, St Lomans. Earlier this summer, he was named as part of the Leinster Rugby U20 squad for the new season. The out-half has also been capped at underage level for Ireland.
Hawthorn tracked Fionn O'Hara for three years
"We’re rapt to be able to bring Fionn on board after having our eye on him for three years," said Hawthorn National Recruitment and List Manager Mark McKenzie.
"Over the course of the time we’ve got to know him, we’ve found him to be a really high-level character with a great work ethic and a real understanding of professionalism having had that experience in those elite pathways.
"He has worked hard already to hone his AFL skills, so he’s already developed some strong kicking skills coupled with being a good decision maker with ball in hand as well.”
22 August 2018; Fionn O'Hara of Leinster during the U18 Youths Interprovincial match between Leinster and Ulster at the University of Limerick in Limerick. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
O'Hara - who joins Meathman Conor Nash at Hawthorn - is expected to make the move Down Under in the new year.
"Fionn actually visited the club in early 2020 and spent some time in Melbourne throughout that period along with his family,” McKenzie added
"So, he already knows a bit about the city as well as the standards and expectations of being a professional footballer, so that should help him with his transition across to Australia."
Picture credit: Sportsfile
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