Meath forward Vikki Wall set for rugby Sevens switch

The IRFU are closing in on a deal to bring Meath football and AFLW star Vikki Wall to rugby, with the 25-year-old expected to link up with the Sevens programme.

Wall is set to take up a contract with the Irish Sevens side ahead of their build-up towards the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The former LGFA Player of the Year joined AFLW side North Melbourne in 2022 and played all 13 games for the club in her debut season before returning to play for Meath in the TG4 All-Ireland ladies football championship, with the Royals beaten by Kerry in last Saturday's quarter-final.

Wall has been on the radar of the IRFU for several months, and visited the Irish Rugby high performance base in December. RTÉ Sport understands that while a deal is yet to be completed it's expected she will agree a contract to switch codes with the aim of making the Olympic squad next year.

Wall is currently one year into a two-year contract with North Melbourne, and the AFLW club confirmed to the Irish Examiner that they are working with the player on her future.

"Vikki has been presented with an opportunity to represent Ireland in the Rugby 7's at the 2024 Olympic Games," a North Melbourne spokesperson told the Examiner.

"As a club, we are exploring all possible options and outcomes with Vikki and her management in order to retain her services."

If the dual-sport star does link up with the Irish Sevens programme, she will have to hit the ground running in a side that secured their Olympic spot in May, courtesy of their fifth place finish in the World Series.

On Tuesday, World Rugby announced a revamp of their Sevens tour, which will be played across eight cities from December.

The tournament with 12 men's and women's teams in an Olympic format will kick off in Dubai on 2