Ireland boss James Topping 'really excited' to see Hugo Keenan impact

Hugo Keenan has "fitted in perfectly" and coach James Topping expects the Ireland star to light up the Olympic Sevens tournament.

Having made a high-profile return to the sevens set-up following Leinster's Champions Cup final defeat at the end of May, Keenan missed out on the URC play-offs and Ireland’s Test series against the Springboks.

The 28-year-old racked up three tournaments since returning to the squad where he had already played two seasons between 2017 and 2019 before getting a senior contract with Leinster.

"He’s fitted in perfectly," head coach Topping, whose side face South Africa (4.30pm Irish time) and Japan (8pm Irish time) tomorrow at Stade de France, told RTÉ Sport.

"He’s great friends with a lot of the guys having played with us before. Hugo, like what he does with the XV side, is really solid, consistent, makes his tackles, makes very few errors.

"That’s what we need with the style of rugby we play. We’ve got lots of guys who are great finishers, and score tries, you also need those that can win the ball back, stop the opposition, frustrate them as well.

"Hugo is fantastic at that and gives us that skillset.

"He’s had a real sort of fast reintroduction to Sevens and only played three tournaments and been managed through that as well.

"The last 10 days in Tours he’s really settled in, he’s got his bearings back and the natural side of playing Sevens where he can now just use his ability when he gets the ball.

"I’m really excited to see him playing in this tournament."

Seven of the 12-man squad played three years ago at the Tokyo Olympics, including Jordan Conroy.

The Offaly man says Keenan was welcomed into the squad with "open arms".

"He was one of the few players that we’d accept seeing that he really did help