A few years ago, Hugo Keenan probably never could have imagined the way in which his career would play out.
He was an excellent young player coming through the ranks with both Leinster and Ireland, although he did find playing opportunities hard to come by early in his days as a professional. After his stint with the Ireland U20s back in 2016, he would spend time with the sevens side for a few years before finally making his debut in 15s back in 2020.
Since then, he has never really looked back.
It's not an understatement to say that Keegan has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in world rugby over the last three years, maintaining a ridiculously high standard at both provincial and international level. Now just over two months out from a first World Cup berth, he is hungry for more.
Speaking in his new role as an Optimum Nutrition ambassador, he admitted that representing his country on such a stage is not something he would have never thought possible as a young aspiring rugby player.
I’m hugely excited about the opportunity. I’m going to work my ass off to get on the plane.
It’s something I would have dreamed of as a kid, not that I thought it would ever happen. It would be my first one, so obviously there’s a bit of excitement around that. A lot of the lads are in the same boat as well.
It’s a cool time to be involved in Irish rugby and I’m looking forward to it...
After Covid I hadn't played a European game for Leinster, I'd never gotten anywhere near an Irish team, it wasn't even in my considerations.
It only came about through injuries, firstly with Leinster to get me a chance to play in that Saracens game and the Pro 14 semi-final and final, which I suppose got me the opportunity to play for Ireland. It was all just about timing and luck, and then you're just trying to get into the team, stay in the team and take each tournament or series as it comes.
So those three years have flown by and over the last year or so as we've started building for the World Cup, you might start thinking about it in terms of the end goal of getting on that plane and doing well, getting involved in the games and hopefully winning matches and going on to create a bit of history.
Pictured is Leinster Rugby Player Hugo Keenan as he is announced as a new ambassador for Optimum Nutrition®, the world's number 1 sports nutrition brand , and part of the Glanbia Performance Nutrition brand family. Credit: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
As the demands on his body have increased during that period, so has his preparation. The old adage 'fail to prepare, prepare to fail' is never more applicable than in it is in top level rugby.
The sport has made remarkable strides in terms of sport science and nutrition over the last couple of decades, with both teams and players now attempting to extract as much from their bodies as possible in order to benefit in the white heat of battle.
Each top level side has a team of experts at their disposal when it comes to helping in this regard, although the process still needs to be tailored to individuals. It is something that Keenan has been honing over the course of his career and is still looking to make improvements in.
I suppose you just learn what works for you. You learn what supplements you need to take, what additional help you need, you work closely with different nutritionists.
We're very lucky, this year in Leinster we've got Eoghan Hickey who has come in and brought a new lease of life, and Emma in Irish camp, so constantly learning off them.
But yeah, definitely have come a long way nutrition wise over the last couple of years so I'm excited to partner with Optimum Nutrition now and take that to a new level again...
A lot of it around games is about recovery post-matches and getting yourself right for the next match.
Pre-season is a bit different where you are trying to get fitter, strong, faster – whatever your work-ons - so it is about homing in on what you need.
That is why the nutritionists are great, that they can advise you. We have got Maurice McGeehan in as our cook in the HPC and it is brilliant. He cooks world class food. So that is great.
We are lucky to be spoilt with nice supplements as well that is needed to aid our recovery and to make us fitter, faster and stronger.
Every bit of preparation will be needed for what is sure to be a gruelling tournament in France. Ireland will face into a tough pool featuring both Scotland and South Africa, with France or New Zealand potentially waiting in a quarter-final should they overcome that challenge.
Ireland have beaten all of those teams over the last 12 months or so, but they cannot afford to rest on their laurels as a result. They know that they will have up their performance levels once again if they are to make a deep run in this tournament.
It is something Keegan admitted is on the mind of the players.
We’re going to have to improve a huge amount. Every other team in the competition will have so much time together, they’re only going to be getting better, they’re going to be developing.
The standard we got to in those previous tournaments or series won’t be enough this time, so we’re just talking about getting ourselves in a better spot than any of the other tournaments gone before so that no team can leapfrog us.
We know the challenge ahead and how tough it is to win the World Cup, we just have to embrace it.
Quite the challenge indeed, but one these Irish players have given every indication that they are capable of rising to.
Now, they just need to get the job done.
*****
HUGO KEENAN ANNOUNCED AS NEW OPTIMUM NUTRITION® AMBASSADOR TO SUPPORT ITS SPORTS NUTRITION PARTNERSHIP WITH LEINSTER RUGBY
Leinster fullback Hugo Keenan joins fellow rugby player Marcus Smith and Irish athletes Emma Duggan, Sean Finn, Nadia Power, as an Optimum Nutrition Elite Series ambassador.
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