Hugo Keenan says he cannot wait to pull on The British & Irish Lions jersey for the first time when he faces the Queensland Reds on Wednesday.
The start of the Ireland full-back’s summer was delayed by a calf injury sustained towards the end of the season that caused him to miss Leinster’s clinching of the United Rugby Championship title.
It also meant the 29-year-old sat out opening fixtures of the Qatar Airways British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025 against Argentina in Dublin and Western Force in Perth.
READ MORE: The Making of Hugo Keenan
However, Keenan claims the plan was always for him to come back against Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium and he is itching to get back on a rugby pitch for the first time in just over a month.
He said: “I’m incredibly proud of it, I’m really looking forward to putting on the jersey for the first time.
“It means a lot to my friends, family and the coaches that I’ve had who have got me to this stage.
“I’m excited about the opportunity, it’s one of the pinnacles of a rugby career and it doesn’t come around that often.
“You sort of have to savour these moments and try and enjoy it as much as you can, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Competition for Keenan’s position ahead of the Test series against Australia has only increased after Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn joined the squad this week after playing in Toulouse’s Top 14 final triumph against Bordeaux-Begles last Saturday.
Elliot Daly impressed in the No.15 jersey in the 54-7 victory against Western Force earlier the same day, scoring two tries in the process, while his fellow Englishman Marcus Smith was the first to play in that position during the 2025 Tour in the narrow loss against Argentina.
Keenan insists they will all be pulling in the same direction on tour, saying: “I think when Blair comes in, we’re just going to be there supporting him trying to get him up to speed, like the lads were to all of us who joined late on.
“It’s not about trying to get one ahead of him or anyone else, we’re all part of the same team – that’s the environment and the team that the coaches want.
“We’ll be helping each other and I’m looking forward to learning off him and picking his brain, and a few of the back-three bits.
“It’s exciting to have such competition and I think that’s why it was good rooming with Elliot Daly last week to get to know him and the way he wants to play and start building those connections.”
