Wall answers Ireland's call with green and gold on mind

Vikki Wall says her switch to rugby has been "tough" but the chance to represent Ireland was too good to turn down.

The Meath woman has two All-Ireland football medals to her name and played with North Melbourne in the AFLW during the 2022 season.

But last Christmas talks began with the Irish Rugby Football Union's high-performance director David Nucifora and the process of a second major shift in code began.

The union confirmed in September that the 25-year-old had been contracted as part of the Sevens programme and a return to football and Aussie Rules has been put on the back burner, for the time being.

Despite having no previous experience with rugby, Wall has set her sights on reaching international standard and earning her place in the squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

"It has been tough, a massive transition into a brand-new sport, one I wouldn't have had much exposure to growing up but no, it's been good," said the Dunboyne woman.

"I am really enjoying it and enjoying the challenges. But definitely, there are a lot of challenges.

"[The decision to join was made] over a few months, definitely.

"It wasn't something where I turned around one day and said, 'surprise, I'm not going back to Australia, I'm going to come here'.

"I was talking with people in Australia, talking with people around me and then going back to one or two people that I trust and then making a decision, and obviously now I'm here."

She got her first taste of real action two months ago when Ireland hosted Australia and France during a 10-day training camp in Blanchardstown.

"I got a rude awakening definitely in the first few minutes," she said.

"It was tough but it's good to get exposure to it.

"I think at the start, and even now still sometimes, I