Irish sports star joins Love Island 2025 cast after last-minute shake-up
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An Irish sports star has officially joined the Love Island 2025 cast - after a shock last-minute shake-up saw one original Islander pulled from the line-up just days before launch.
Kyle Ashman was set to enter the villa in Mallorca alongside 11 other sexy singletons - but he was suddenly axed from the line-up over a previous arrest yesterday. An ITV spokesperson confirmed: "For personal reasons, Kyle will not be entering the Love Island Villa as planned".
And now, in a surprise twist, 25-year-old professional rugby player Conor Phillips from Limerick has swooped in to take his place. The former Munster Academy man, who was part of Ireland's Grand Slam winning under-20 squad in 2019, made two senior appearances for the province in the 2022/23 season.
He now plays in the All-Island League for Terenure, and he has also appeared for Ireland's Sevens side - much like fellow Limerick man and former Love Island winner Greg O'Shea. The confident winger says he's after "someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic" - and revealed he doesn't mind "a dominant woman".
But don't expect him to be clingy. "I don't like to answer to anyone else. I like to do my own thing", he admitted, adding that being "too needy" is his biggest ick.
He described himself as the "class clown type vibe", and joked his love life would be called 'Still Trying' - "it's got to be a rugby pun, hasn't it?"
And while he says he'd be "keeping my head above water" in the dating world, he's ready to settle down and "invest in some stocks". As for his flirting style? "I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby… it doesn't work, but it gets them laughing."
Conor becomes the second Irish contestant confirmed for this year's Love Island series, which kicks off Monday, June 9 on Virgin Media Two and Virgin Media Play. He'll be joined by Megan Forte, a 24-year-old musical theatre performer and panto star originally from Dublin. Now living in Brighton, Megan describes herself as bubbly and is looking for a man with a great sense of humour - and says she's more than happy with a "dad bod".
The full 2025 cast includes Almia Gagigo, Helena Ford, Megan, Megan Moore, Shakira Khan and Sophie Lee, who will be coupling up with Conor, Ben Holbrough, Bly Chegini, Dejon Noel-Williams, Harry Cooksley and Tommy Bradley.
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