RUGBY, not horses, was the sporting religion in her household, as Michelle Lucey - Olympic groom, Irish Draught fan and fluent Italian speaker - recalls her early life.

“I grew up in Co Limerick, first Ballingarry then Croom, in a very sporty family, but most definitely not a horsey one. My dad Michael played rugby for Munster and ‘almost’ Ireland - that’s another story! - but did get to play against the All Blacks in Limerick.