WALL IS HOPING TO SCALE RUGBY SEVENS HEIGHTS
VIKKI WALL insists her Meath career isn’t over despite her high-profile switch to the Ireland Rugby Sevens programme.
The two-time AllIreland winner says she has “parked” her time with the Royals as she pursues her new career in a new sport.
Wall is also an exAFLW player and is racing to get up to speed as she targets the Ireland Women’s Sevens for Paris 2024.
“For now it’s parked, just because this year it’s a case of trying to both and not doing either properly at all and I don’t think that’s fair to either team that I’m participating with at the moment,” she said.
“I don’t think it’s doable this year. For me, it’s something that’s definitely not closed.
“I think it will always be my greatest passion because it’s really hard to take your heart away from a sport that is the place you grew up and the people you grew up with, and I think that’s what makes the GAA so special.
“It’s something that
I’ll absolutely think about all the time and I’m maybe trying at the moment to put the blinkers on and not think about it so much, because the league has started obviously.
“You are trying to keep an eye on it, but not too close of an eye to be able to separate them.
“But look, this year unfortunately it won’t be possible - but it’s definitely not over for me, I’d have to think.”
Bid
Wall says the lightbulb moments are coming in her bid to make it to Paris 2024.
She made her competitive debut during the recent World Series in Perth, where Ireland emerged as tournament winners for the first time.
Wall didn’t feature in the final - but her appearance against Japan was another milestone in a journey that only started last September.
“To get to experience with all of them and really celebrate it, to win the gold out there was great,” she recalled.
“It was a really, really big moment. I was really proud I suppose over the last few months, getting to that moment.
“Then you get a taste for it and you’re thinking, what’s next?
“That’s probably the mindset, to play more and to get more exposure. That’s next on the ticking the box exercise.”
Asked how much of a motivation making the Olympic squad is for her, Wall said that it is a “huge driver” for everyone involved.
And on a personal basis? “But I think you have to break it down,” she stressed.
“There’s no point spending every day thinking of Paris when we have these next few months on our hands as well.
Perform
“I think you have to perform for them to be able to think towards Paris.”
As buoyant Ireland prepare to depart for Vancouver and LA for the next stop on the World Series, Wall feels that she is getting there in terms of developing a natural feel for Sevens rugby.
“I’d like to think a few things have clicked,” said Wall.
“There definitely have been some days, whether I’m looking at certain set-ups or lineouts or whatever it is, I think, ‘Oh, yeah, that makes sense now’.
“And just even when people are talking about things, not feeling like I’m second guessing or kind of rethinking their sentences almost after they’ve just told me something to do.
“Maybe I’m still waiting for that full lightbulb moment but hopefully we’ll get there.
“I’d like to think there’s been a few small lightbulb moments - but we’re waiting for the big one.”