Former reality star Mark 0’Dare loving his real life challenge in Rugby Sevens

He was a reality star just a year ago. But former Love Island contestant Mark O’Dare now has a real life challenge ahead in rugby union.

Mark O'Dare, who appeared on Love Island last year, has a second chance at an elite sporting career.

• Son of NRL gun making his own mark
• From league referee to Rugby Sevens
• Towering teen head, shoulders above rivals

It’s a second chance former Love Island reality show heart throb Mark O’Dare is going to pick up and run with as fast as he can.

A one-time NRL aspirant, O’Dare has been given a second chance of an elite sporting career at an age where athletes in other sports are contemplating retirement.

And the 26-year-old from Leichhardt said his time on Love Island last year had played a major role in him embracing his latest opportunity as a member of the inaugural Rugby Australia First Nations sevens squad.

Mark O'Dare has been talented identified for Rugby Sevens via the First Nations program.

Mark O’Dare meet Millie Fuller on Love Island and they were in an eight month relationships before their split.

“It changed me as a person. I was quite shy, reserved, introverted and it gave me so much more confidence,’’ said O’Dare, studying post graduate law at the University of NSW.

“I’m not sure I would have gone to trial if I hadn’t done Love Island. The show gave me a lot of confidence.’’

“You get an opportunity like this you have to go with it. You don’t often get second chances.”

The shot at sporting redemption comes six years after O’Dare was on train and trial contracts to play rugby league with the Manly Sea Eagles and the Gold Coast Titans.

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It’s like a second chance. I’m a bit older than the others but it’s such an opportunity, so good they believe in me

“I went to the Gold Coast and trained with the Titans for a while for first grade but busted my ankle,’’ he said.

“I ended up coming back to Sydney and played (rugby) for Sydney University in the Shute Shield for a while.

“Eventually I hung up the boots and said I would follow my law degree and degree in criminology. But there was always something way in the back of my mind saying ‘shall I go back, shall I go back’.’’

Mark O'Dare broke his ankle as a young NRL hopeful and later gave up on his dream of a sporting career.

Mark O'Dare at a Titans training.

O’Dare before breaking his ankle.

Despite not playing football for four years and breaking his top rib during the sevens trials, O’Dare still made the cut for the squad which will play at the Western Sydney 7’s at Lidcombe this weekend.

“I was so stiff I could barely move for four days,’’ he said of the camp in Sydney which culled hundreds of hopefuls to a men’s and women’s squad of 20 each.

“It’s like a second chance. I’m a bit older than the others but it’s such an opportunity, so good they believe in me,’’ he said.

Mark O'Dare trialling with Sea Eagles back in 2013.

Mark O'Dare training with the Sea Eagles before he quit the sport following an injury.

“I had four years out. I’m completely restarting my career. I feel fit and ready to go and I’ve got no injuries so my age is irrelevant.

“I still want to do it. I believe in myself I could do it.’’

O’Dare’s long term goal is to crack the Australian Rugby Sevens squad.

“I think everyone wants to get to the Australian sevens but it’s the goal,’’ he said.

“I am training twice a day, six times a week.

“I believe I can go to the next level.’’

O’Dare met Millie Fuller on Love Island with the pair in an eight month relationship before their split in April this year.

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