Ikem Ugwueru still referencing rugby textbook after switch to Clare footballers

In the end it was a case of having to concentrate on one sport. A choice that many aspiring competitors have to make.

Ikem Ugwueru chose Gaelic football, after a rugby career that did show promise. Starting out with Ennis RFC, Ugwueru went on to represent Munster up to U-19 level and also lined out for Shannon in the AIL. He played youth soccer in the Clare league and at at he age of 11 represented Ireland in judo against England.

Ugwueru played a bit of Gaelic football during the summer months, so as to keep himself in shape before the rugby season resumed. During those longer days, however, people took notice and a call-up to the Clare U-20 squad followed.

Colm Collins, no doubt impressed by Ugwueru's performances for his club Éire Óg Ennis (for whom he won two county medals), sent out an invitation to join his senior set-up. The invite was initially turned down; the lure of rugby still strong, but Collins felt Ugwueru could add value to the Banner cause, in transferring his skills from one code to another.

On 22 April last year, Ikem Ugwueru made his championship debut as Clare beat Limerick to qualify for the Munster final. Exactly a year on, the first black man to play football for the county was on from the start in the win over Waterford that secured a successive provincial appearance for the Banner. Another date with Kerry looms; Cusack Park the venue for next Sunday's decider.

Born in Dublin to Nigerian parents, Ugwueru and the rest of the family eventually relocated to Ennis. Speaking to RTÉ Sport at the launch of SuperValu's sponsorship of this year's All-Ireland SFC, the 24-year-old outlined what it now means for him to represent his adopted county.

"I didn't think anything of it [playing for Clare in the