Vikki Wall aiming to realise Olympics dream with Ireland Sevens after code switch

Former Meath footballer Vikki Wall has signed a contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union and is being integrated into their Sevens programme with the Paris Olympics next year in mind.

The double All-Ireland winner, 25, who also had a spell with North Melbourne in the AFLW, was pictured recently in the Irish jersey after a Sevens tournament.

"Vikki is in the Sevens programme now since the start of August so she is a contracted player," Gillian McDarby, head of women's performance and pathways confirmed this morning.

"Her dream is to go to the Olympics.

"She is making great progress and she will get exposed to game time in the development competitions now in Elche and Marcoussis and we will start to monitor her progress there and whether we bring her into the World Series set-up in Dubai."

The Ireland team qualified for their first every Olympics games last May via the World Rugby Seven Series.

Meanwhile, new XVs head coach Scott Bemand has revealed that number 8 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird will be out for a lengthy spell.

On Tuesday the IRFU named a 30-woman squad for the upcoming WXV3 series in Dubai and said the Munster back row (below), one of Ireland's best performers in last season’s wooden spoon Six Nations campaign, had suffered an injury in a training match.

"Unfortunately, it’s a significant injury. It will take her out for a while," said Bemand. "Possibly [miss the Six Nations next year], we’ll know more in the next few weeks. It’s possible."

The former England Women assistant coach also confirmed new co-captains, forwards Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, for the team after experienced lock Nichola Fryday retired, aged 28 from international rugby, at the end of the last season.

Both players are based in England and play with