“A well-rounded diet is essential as an athlete”
Donna Ahern caught up with Hugo Keenan, to talk to him about the highlights of his rugby career and his extended role as Inishella’s brand ambassador
Print17 March 2026
Hugo Keenan is an Irish rugby union player known for his consistency, intelligence, and reliability at fullback. He represents Leinster Rugby at provincial level and plays internationally for the Ireland national rugby union team.
Keenan has been a key figure in Ireland’s recent successes, praised for his positional awareness, work rate, and composure under pressure.
Q: You’ve just extended your partnership with Inishella for another two years — what does being a brand ambassador mean to you personally, beyond just putting your name to the brand?
A: In sport in particular, nutrition is such an important part of my performance, recovery, and everyday health so I feel that being the Inishella ambassador really aligns with something that I incorporate into my everyday living. I love that they only source Bord Bia quality approved Irish meats and it has such a broad range to choose from that I can have great variety whether I’m looking for meats that are high in protein, ones for a full Irish or ones to enjoy on the BBQ.
Q: Inishella places a strong emphasis on quality, trust, and performance. How do those values align with your own approach to rugby and everyday life?
A: They align brilliantly. Rugby is a very competitive sport and there is huge competition to be selected on the teams that I’ve been lucky enough to play on. Giving a top-class performance is hugely important to me, and I have to put in top quality training to be able to perform so I think it’s the perfect match.
Q: Since becoming an ambassador in 2023, how have you seen the Inishella brand evolve, and what excites you most about where it’s heading next?
A: Inishella is a relatively new brand, I get a great buzz when I see it in more and more stores around the country. The range has also expanded over the years, and I know the team at BWG Foods are always looking for new sales opportunities for their retailers and their customers. Shopper habits and preferences continue to evolve so it’s great to see the brand addressing those needs.
Q: Nutrition plays a huge role in elite sport. How important is high-quality, Irish-sourced protein in supporting your performance and recovery at the top level?
A: Protein has become a popular trend in recent years but for athletes in many sports it’s been around for a long time and has played an important role in their nutritional plans. Knowing that I can get high quality, and great tasting, protein from Inishella is a real bonus for me.
Q: Looking back on your career so far, what moment or achievement stands out as the biggest highlight to date — and why does it hold such significance for you?
A: Two moments stand out to me, winning the Grand Slam in 2023 in the Aviva Stadium in front of family, friends & Irish supporters. Seeing my parents and siblings lift up the 6 Nations trophy and experience the atmosphere on the pitch afterwards was truly special.
Winning the Lions Series and scoring the winning try in 2025 was something I could never have dreamed of. It was a packed-out MCG with 110,000 people there and to do it in such dramatic fashion at the end after coming back made it an unforgettable moment.
Q: You’ve faced some formidable opposition in your career. Who would you say has been the toughest opponent or team you’ve come up against, and what made that challenge so intense?
A: New Zealand are always guaranteed to be one of the toughest sides to face, we’ve had some great battles against them on both our home soils as well as the RWC. I think the way they play the game and the individual skill level of the team is something I admire and sets them apart in World Rugby for me.
Q: How do big-game experiences with Ireland, Leinster, or the British & Irish Lions shape your mindset when facing high-pressure moments?
A: For me, preparation is the key. Along with the coaches, I make sure that I am fully prepared for every game, not just the big ones. Also trust is key, trust in yourself, in your teammates and in the system that the coaches have prepared for us, all of that really helps when dealing with high-pressure moments.
Q: As a role model for younger players and fans, how important is it for you to partner with brands that promote sustainability, traceability, and Irish produce?
A: As a player in today’s game, we are very accessible to people whether they are fans or players starting out so it’s important to me that I lead by example. I’m incredibly proud of my Irish heritage so working with a quality brand like Inishella really represents a lot of what I’m about.
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring athletes about balancing performance, nutrition, and making smart choices both on and off the pitch?
A: It took me until later in my career to really understand how important nutrition is for performance — for example, how much you need to fuel properly before and after games, and the impact it can have.
I’d advise meal prepping as much as you can so that on long days you don’t take the easy option.
A well-rounded diet is essential as an athlete, but after a hard training session or a tough match, I think it’s just as important to reward yourself and have some balance too.
Q: Finally, is there something about yourself that we don’t already know?
A: After my Commerce degree, I passed my accountancy ACA exams.
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