Arsenal U16 player Oliver Nicholas has opted against playing for Ireland after being called up by the England squad for the U16 age group this week, as well as playing a part in England’s Victory Shield campaign late last year.
This is a blow for Ireland as he seems to be highly rated (although I personally have never seen him play before so I can’t back this up) and had played for Ireland prior to the Victory Shield. Nicholas qualified for Ireland’s national team because his grandparents came from Waterford in Ireland, but when England offered him the chance to join their set up instead, Nicholas couldn’t refuse, and Vinny Butler, the Irish U16s coach will not try and convince him that this is the wrong decision.
“I was a bit annoyed about it but sometimes players only get asked to play for England after they have represented Ireland.” He told the Irish Daily Star that “he’s made his decision and I won’t be trying to convince him to change his mind.”
