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Byrne playing for Ireland's in this year's International Rules Series.

Byrne begins life at Carlton with hikes in the snow

The Louth teenager has been taking part in a training camp in Arizona with his new team-mates.

FORMER LOUTH FOOTBALLER Ciaran Byrne has kicked off his career with AFL club Cartlon thousands of miles away from Melbourne.

The 19-year-old, who agreed to swap Gaelic football for a move Down Under after signing a two-year deal back in August, recently linked up with his new side for their pre-season training camp in Arizona.

On top of training in the snow, it involved a two-day hike and Byrne told the club’s website that he has been getting to know coach Mick Malthouse and his team-mates.

“Mick has been very good, as it’s really only the third time I’ve met him,” Byrne said.

“He’s a real family man and if you’re struggling he’s a good man to talk to because he really helps you out.”

“I’ve been rooming with Slug, well Davey Ellard that is, and Nickey Graham,” Byrne said. “They’re two weirdos – but it’s been pretty good just to get to know them better as well.”

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    Mute Lf
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    Feb 21st 2018, 7:58 AM

    big talent at 9 for Leinster..

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 21st 2018, 11:08 AM

    Great to see Hugh doing so well. He was a key component in Belvo winning the cup for the last 2 years.
    On the wider point of GAA / Rugby crossover and any perceived hostility, I don’t see any contradictions. Both sports have similar skills re ball handling and decision making and both are full contact sports. For as long back as I can recall there has always been a crossover of guys playing both codes. From Michael Hickey in the 1970s right up to present day with David Hawkshaw, Belvos current outhalf playing minor football for Dublin, to name but 2 and there have been more. Long may it continue

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    Mute Lf
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    Feb 21st 2018, 11:10 AM

    @Tom O’Gorman: there is a huge battle at younger ages between GAA and rugby for athletes.. training being scheduled to clash forcing players to pick etc.

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    Mute Tom O'Gorman
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    Feb 21st 2018, 11:58 AM

    @Lf: very true LF and not likely to end any time soon. As a supporter of both codes I probably get less exercised about it than others who see talent migrating from their sport to “the dark side ” as they might perceive it. Even within the GAA code there’s a battle between hurling and football for the best available talent. As standards rise it’s becoming impossible for guys to meet the demands of playing rugby and GAA. It’s a pity that lads are forced to make these choices at a younger and younger age nowadays.

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    Mute EK
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    Feb 21st 2018, 1:31 PM

    @Tom O’Gorman: I agree that having played both sports, their is a lot of crossover between them. As you say, it helps with spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination.

    However, at an elite level, and particularly in the forwards, the physical demands of each sport are like chalk and cheese by the time a player is 18 years old.

    Backs can enjoy the best of both worlds up until minor level but elite rugby players are conditioned in completely different ways to GAA players by the time their 18.

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    Mute Alistair Fyffe
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    Feb 21st 2018, 8:45 AM

    I’m surprised the GAA charm offensive is still carrying on now that the RWC bid is dead.

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    Mute Conor Paddington
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    Feb 21st 2018, 8:55 AM

    @Alistair Fyffe: really? There’s hostility from a lot of people with GAA roots towards rugby, but there’s very little in the other direction. The “charm offensive” has been around for a lot longer than the RWC bid, and there are a lot of players in Irish rugby with roots in GAA. It’s not an offensive.

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    Mute Tim Dawson
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    Feb 21st 2018, 4:22 PM

    @Conor Paddington: Conor, that is very simply not true. There is hostility within rugby circles towards all sports and pressure to only play it. That also applies to soccer and gaa within certain clubs( the most successful ones because they can). To say it’s only in one direction is naive.

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    Mute Talleyrand Frye
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    Feb 21st 2018, 4:22 PM

    @Conor Paddington: I have to disagree here Conor. I remember playing rugby in UCC and one fella put on a Cork GAA jersey after training and he got a pile of abuse – you know the kind that pretends to be all in good fun but reveals some actual resentment. There are always people on here moaning that our rugby team would be much better if it wasn’t for the GAA taking away all these potential athletes. The hostility is definitely a two-way street.

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