Shane Monahan gets cagey in search for new career

Former Gloucester and Rotherham winger Shane Monahan is to swap the rugby field for the octagon after embarking on a career in Mixed Martial Arts.
Irishman Monahan, 29, left Gloucester in 2015 and signed a short-term deal with Munster as World Cup cover. But after being released last November, offers from other clubs failed to appeal and he headed in a different direction.
Inspired by Irish UFC champion Conor McGregor, Monahan is well over halfway through an intensive 22-week training programme that will culminate in his first official MMA bout at Dublin’s National Boxing Stadium on August 13.
Monahan told The Rugby Paper: “There’s a programme called ‘Wimp 2 Warrior’ started by an Aussie guy named Richard Crannyand it’s being done in Ireland by John Kavanagh, who coaches Conor McGregor.
“I’d just finished my contract at Munster when one of my friends told me about it and said I should have a look. I had a few rugby offers on the table but nothing I really wanted, so this was something completely different.
“I’ve always had an interest in UFC and with Conor getting big in it, that piques your interest and he’s exploded all over Ireland over the last few years. The grappling techniques are similar to rugby so I thought, ‘why not?’.
“I’m in week 15 of my 22-week transformation programme now, after which I’ll get into the octagon and fight. It’s physically very challenging but to have the opportunity of being trained by John Kavanagh is great.”
Monahan will have a better idea of his prospects after fight night in August, but has not ruled out a return to rugby. He said: “I’m committed to MMA until August but I’m keeping all avenues open. MMA could take off or I might head back to rugby, but I’m enjoying what I’m doing and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“At the very least I’ll be ultra-fit by August, so the transition back to rugby wouldn’t be too difficult for me to make.”
NEALE HARVEY