Irish rugby player joins cast of Love Island ahead of its return to TV next week

Sunday World

2 days ago

Two Irish singles are set to appear on the dating show
An Irish rugby player has joined the cast of Love Island ahead of its return to TV next week.
Conor Phillips, a 25-year-old from Limerick, has played for both Ireland and Munster.
Ahead of his debut on the ITV dating show, he said he is looking for a 'dominant woman.'
'Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman.'
Conor Phillips
News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025
When asked if he would be hired or fired by presenter Maya Jama based on his flirting skills he said 'definitely hire.'
'I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby,' he said.
'It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course!'
The Limerick man said his biggest ick was someone who was 'too needy'.
'I like someone to be independent and do their own thing and then we come together and do our thing.'
When asked to finish the statement 'You're a 10 but…', he confessed: 'I don't like to answer to anyone else.
'I like to do my own thing. It's something I'm working on for a relationship. Hopefully I've improved!'
The Ireland 7s wing will replace Kyle Ashman, who left the show days before its launch.
His shock exit came after reports alleged that he was involved in a machete attack in February.
The 23-year-old who hails from Stafford was cleared by police, and in a statement he told MailOnline: 'I fully cooperated with this police investigation and made it very clear that I had no involvement in this incident.'
'I am not a violent person and any suggestion otherwise is a mischaracterisation.'
Philips is not the only Irish person destined for the Love Island villa.
Dubliner Megan Forte Clarke is also set to appear on the show.
Megan Forte Clarke (Instagram)
The 24-year-old actress lives in Brighton, England.
Describing herself as a 'musical theatre performer', the brunette beauty also works as an energy broker.
Ahead of the show's return on Monday, June 9th, Clarke opened up about the type of man she's looking for in the villa.
'Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus,' she said.
'I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothée Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'.
'I'm 5ft1 so any height really.'
When asked about her 'claim to fame', the theatre lover said: 'Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton.
'Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto.'
She will be joined by 11 other contestants hoping to find love in the sun this summer.
Love Island starts on Monday June 9th at 9pm on Virgin Media One.