Love Island star gets grappling with Scarlets

Rob Lloyd News

Former Ireland 7s and Love Island star Greg O’Shea joined the squad at Parc y Scarlets for a bit of pre-season training with a difference.

Greg represented Ireland at the Tokyo Olympics, but is more well known for winning ITV”s popular dating show in 2019.

As part of a series of ‘Rugby Fit’ YouTube videos in conjunction with World Rugby, Greg is visiting rugby clubs in Europe and South Africa to sample different aspects of pre-season.

He has already been to Perpignan in the South of France; was put through his paces with some beach training at Newcastle Falcons, took part in a strongman session with Edinburgh and hit the water for rowing with Ealing Trailfinders. 

At Parc y Scarlets he got up close and personal with our squad in a high-intensity wrestling and grappling session.

The Scarlets have been doing these sessions twice a week for the last four weeks under the guidance of European champion Ash Williams and his fellow coaches from Swansea’s Draig club. South Wales-based Tatami Fightwear have also kindly donated a wrestling mat for use in our indoor training arena.

Greg said: “It was one of the toughest things I’ve done, I have been in rugby for 10 years but have never done any wrestling so it was a new challenge for me. I really enjoyed it, there is a great vibe amongst the Scarlets boys.”

Keep an eye out on World Rugby’s YouTube and social media channel in the coming weeks for the full video.

Greg O’Shea, coach Ash Williams and the forwards group