TV GOLD
Ex-Love Island winner Greg O’Shea stars for Ireland’s rugby sevens team at Tokyo 2020 after shunning fame to chase gold
ONE man who won't be giving the latest edition of Love Island any thought is former winner Greg O'Shea.
The handsome Irishman, 26, famously won the fifth series back in 2019, alongside Amber Gill.
12
12
12
However, rather than follow fame through reality TV - O'Shea continued with a career in sport.
His determination was rewarded by appearing for Ireland at Tokyo 2020 in the rugby sevens.
And despite Ireland missing out on a quarter-final place, O'Shea appears to have enjoyed his time in the Olympic Village - sharing his adventures to all his Instagram followers online.
But it was in the Love Island villa, where he had his first brush of fame alongside Molly-Mae Hague, Tommy Fury, and Maura Higgins.
REALITY TV WINNER
It was only two years ago that O'Shea managed to scoop the £50,000 prize with Amber Gill and win the show.
They got together towards the end of the fifth series, and he won over fans as well as her heart with his charming persona.
However, their romance was short-lived. Amber claimed he dumped her over the phone, which he denied.
Greg later revealed their split was amicable - and over a FaceTime call, where he revealed he wanted to pursue a career in rugby instead of seeking fame.
The pair wanted different things, with Amber hoping to move to London to take up offers of fashion endorsements and modelling contracts.
12
12
12
12
Greg told the : "'I have never actually come out and told my side of the story because my management and other people advised me against it.
"When it was all happening I was like 'I have screenshots, I can release a statement with screenshots to show people the truth' but it was only going to add fuel to the fire and so I took the brunt of it.
"It was hard to bite my tongue but that's just the way it played out.
"I think she expected me to fight for it but I had to be realistic and look at it as a proper relationship and not the Love Island winners.
"This was all on FaceTime, then I had to go to training, so I put my phone down and I came back after an hour and my phone was blowing up, an article was released 'Greg breaks up with Amber over text' – I couldn't believe it."
FAME CAN WAIT
O'Shea is by far and away the most well-known of the Rugby Sevens Irish side.
And he quite easily could've done what many ex-Love Islanders have done - take the endorsements and run all the way to the bank.
But the 5ft 10in fly-half always had plans for a career in rugby, despite his brush with fame.
Prior to flying out to Japan, he explained rather than pursuing the easy money that show winners usually avail of.
12
12
He said: “You’d kind of presume that it was a difficult choice but to be honest with you, even going into that show, I just knew what my decision was going to be.
"We’d been working too hard here in the Sevens programme for the last five or six years.
"I couldn’t just throw it all away because I got too big for my boots and decided to move to the UK and become a celebrity.
"I had to come back here, put my hand up and try to get into the team. I’ve made it thank God so I can be happy with my decision.
"It nearly didn’t work out for me and I was going to look very silly but I’m glad it paid off in the end.
"You can always make money. You can’t make memories.
"Don’t get me wrong. I’ve taken my opportunities in and around that and maybe post my rugby career I’ll try and capitalise on it and see what’s going on.
"But for the moment we’re trying to do the country proud in Tokyo.";
DISSAPOINTMENT
Sadly for O'Shea and Ireland, it wasn't to be this time round. Despite beating Kenya 12-7, a late try by the Africans meant the Irish failed to rack up the points difference required to make the difference.
They will play Kenya again tomorrow in a play-off for ninth place, but a medal is out of reach.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
That'll give O'Shea plenty of time on his hands, and he previously joked on an Instagram story that there was "absolutely nothing to do" inside a tamed down Olympic Village because of Covid restrictions.
Perhaps he will be catching up with Love Island after all...
12
12
12
Most read in Sport
Ireland hockey team rock out to Maniac 2000 at impromptu outdoor rave
Topics