Sky's the limit as our Rachel signs up for another two years on sports desk

The 26-year-old told the Herald she now feels London is her home and was delighted with her new contract.

Despite joining Sky Sports News two years ago, the former Assets model remains the newest addition there and is only Irish member of the team.

"It's nice at the moment as I'm still the new girl," she laughs.

"I do a lot of different shifts throughout the week and a lot of live sport so they are really letting me get a grasp of everything."

With no experience in live television, the former City Channel host was thrown in at the deep end at Sky.

"Sky is a massive company and it was quite daunting having worked in such a small company like City Channel before, but it is a great company to work for and everyone helped me settle in, get my feet on the ground and help me figure it out.

Daunting

"London is now home and I love it," said the presenter, who had her own entertainment programme on City Channel and a motoring show on TV3.

Rachel, who is also a talented equestrian star having represented Ireland in European showjumping competitions, was placed with the production team on her arrival at Sky to understand how it all worked behind the camera.

"This greatly helped me with things in front of the camera when it came to my time. I worked with the production teams for three or four weeks and then my boss told me I was on the next day and it was a case of sink or swim."

Not surprisingly, Rachel's highlight is hosting Sky Sports News' famous Transfer Deadline Day coverage.

"There is always a massive build-up to that. The last transfer deadline day just finished on August 31 and this is one of the things Sky are very well known for, when all these last-minute deadline deals are being done of footballers moving to new clubs. Everyone is tuning in so working on that day was a massive bonus."

Rachel dated equestrian star and recent bronze Olympics medallist Cian O'Connor for a number of years before an amicable split.

He has since wed Ruth Maybin, while Rachel is happily single, focusing all her energies on her career.

Rachel is now aiming to pick up some freelancing work in this country next year. "I want to do a couple of bits and pieces on the side in Ireland if work allows it," she said.

OLYMPICS

It has been a busy sporting year for the presenter, who has covered the Euros, Wimbledon and the London Olympics, with more to come.

"The Ryder Cup is Sky Sports next big sporting event at the end of September which will be featured heavily on the channel and I looking forward to covering that too."

hnews@herald.ie