HIGHLY-RATED MEATH footballer Conor Nash has completed a deal to join AFL outfit Hawthorn.
Having already spent time in Australia training with his new teammates, the club opted to offer Nash a professional contract. And the 18-year-old, who also grew up playing rugby, will be joined at Hawthorn by Derry’s Conor Glass, who signed with the club last October.
“I grew up playing Gaelic footy and rugby and that’s where I was spotted,” Nash told the Herald Sun. “I’ve been three times out here I think and each time have gotten in with the boys and become a full-time player for those couple of weeks that I’m there and training.”
Hawthorn has signed Irishman Conor Nash as an international rookie.
📰: https://t.co/p93zFSwlBZ pic.twitter.com/Q0rPcQOUAR
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) October 30, 2016
Source: Hawthorn FC/Twitter
But Nash, who helped his GAA club Simonstown Gaels to their first-ever county championship yesterday, may now not be available to play for Colm O’Rourke’s side in the Leinster quarter-final tie against Rhode, with pre-season in Australia starting next month.
“I’d love to see him playing for Simonstown and centre-field for Meath, but he could play rugby for Ireland, he’s had offers there, and now he’s got the offers of Aussie Rules, so we wish him well,” O’Rourke told RTÉ.
“But at the same time I’d love to see him back. I’d like to confiscate his ticket and let him go out in January.”
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