Wall focused on World Series as Olympic dream looms

In yet another example of the popularity of Vikki Wall and the nation's desire for her to succeed that when Lucozade Sport needed a brand ambassador they turned to her.

This week Wall and her fellow Ireland rugby international Caelan Doris, himself a man with Meath connections, were announced as the front figures for Lucozade Sport, but for Wall all questions were about her drive to make the Ireland Sevens squad for the Paris Olympics this summer.

Two-time All-Ireland SFC winner with Meath and AFLW star with North Melbourne, Wall has turned her hand to rugby with considerable effect and after a few non-cap games to get a feel for the game she made her competitive debut against Japan in the World Sevens Series in Perth last month, a tournament that Ireland went on to win.

The 25-year-old Dunboyne woman is giving herself every opportunity to make the squad for the Paris Olympics and is even if it means wrecking the head of those tasked with coaching her.

"Patience isn't something I would pride myself on and it's definitely something I always try and work on but I have to give huge credit to the girls," the double All-Ireland winner said.

"I know for the first month, easily, that I was in there, I was wrecking their heads. Whether it was new drills, whether it was just random questions on things that would probably be second nature to them, but any question I had, I was never turned away.

"There was never a huff, never a sigh, things like that. They're always so willing to help.

"Whether it's sitting down and going through analysis, like just asking basic questions and just getting them to explain things 10 times over until I actually have a handle on it. I just can't give them enough credit for how good they've been.

"Someone coming in probably knocks things off kilter a bit.

"I was messing up drills quite a bit at the start and you know how frustrating that it - the cohesion of a drill. They have been unbelievable to me and I'm very, very grateful, but hopefully I'm not disrupting training now as much as I was a few months ago."

After a number of months of getting used to the games of Rugby Sevens and playing in a few 'friendlies' Wall made her debut as a tighthead forward in the Pool game against Japan in Perth and made a positive impact in the scrum as well as a clever offload which led to an Ireland try.

Despite plenty of prepartion wall insisted that playing in that World Series game against Japan was another step up in standard and intensity again.

"It was next level. We played a few development tournaments but that was the first cap for me," she recalled.

"Getting to that level and getting exposure was good. Definitely a higher tempo than you are used to, 30-odd degrees heat has a bit of an impact as well especially in the thick jerseys as well, but we were there for a couple weeks beforehand so we were acclimatised.

"Getting time against Japan was great. The first minute was probably a shock to the system but then you don’t really have much time in the Sevens games to adjust so you just throw yourself into the swing of things.

"A lot of work-ons, even from my short time on the pitch but it was great to get out there."

Ireland ended a 29-game losing run against Australia to clinch gold in Perth and Wall was delighted for her team mates who have persevered so long for such reward.

Now attentions turn to the four more World Series events where Wall will hope to make an even bigger impact and force her way into the 13-player squad for the Olympics in the summer.

"I’m fairly fresh in the door but to be able to see people experiencing it, Lucy Mulhall, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Stacy Flood, Emily Lane to name a few who have been knocking around for quite a while, it was great.

"Having gone through quite a few losses, and they are the backbone of the programme so to be able to see it from their perspective and to just see how it was bigger than sport on that day, how much it meant to everyone and to be somewhat part of it was unbelievable.

"It was such a great day for Irish rugby and for all the work that has gone into this programme over the last while.

"I don’t think it’s specific chat about making an Olympic squad at the moment, we still have another four World Series to go.

"For me the chat is to continue to try to make the squad and to try and get as much game time as possible.

"There are things within my game I have to work on and you do that week in week out with all the coaches we have.

"It’s just basic skills, general game time, things like that, getting as much knowledge as I can within the game.

"That’s what I need to work on. As a team everyone is trying to be as competitive as possible. We have more World Series and then Olympics at the end of the year and it’s a massive year for women’s sevens in Ireland.

"There’s that competition within the panel the whole time, whether it’s for LA or Vancouver, the next competitions, or the Olympics in a few months’ time," concluded the Dunboyne flier.