DIRECTOR OF RUGBY: Brian Smith
HEAD COACH: n/a
ASSISTANT/SPECIALIST COACHES: Forwards: Toby Booth Director of physical performance: Peter Harding Speed and skills: Tony Stanger
CAPTAIN: Mike Catt
GROUND CAPACITY: Madejski Stadium, Reading, 24,100
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LAST SEASON: Premiership: 3rd Powergen Cup: Pool stage European Challenge Cup: Runners-up
CLUB WEBSITE: www.london-irish.com
FANS’ WEBSITE: www.londonirish.org
PHONE NUMBERS: Club: 01932 783034 Tickets: 0870 999 1871
SMITH’S CHALLENGE TO CEMENT HIS REVOLUTION
Can Irish continue to surprise with the change in style they showcased last season?
Brian Smith has overseen nothing short of a rugby revolution at London Irish and it is in the speed and youthful talent of the likes of Delon Armitage, Topsy Ojo, above, and Nils Mordt, the English-qualified trio, and Gonzalo Tiesi, the classy centre from Argentina, that this new-look attacking approach finds its most eloquent expression. With Mike Catt and Riki Flutey pulling the strings, and with the Samoan power on the wings of Sailosi Tagicakibau and Dominic Feau’nati to call on too, Irish can certainly continue to embarrass Premiership defences.
But what about the more traditional London Irish power game up front? Does that still exist?
Irish do not intend to jettison forward strength for increased pace on the ball elsewhere and they have signed Dave Fitter, an Australia international prop, to deepen their pool of front-row muscle.
Wasn’t third in the table a case of overachievement last season?
No, it was well-earned. Paul Hodgson is very underrated at scrum half but if anything is going to find Irish out this season, it could be their formidable-looking Heineken Cup group.
So where will they finish? A mix of ferocity and frills could see Irish again finish in the top four.
TRANSFERS
IN: Steffon Armitage (Saracens), Tonga Lea’aetoa (Pau), Aiden McCullen (Toulouse), James Hudson (Bath), Seilala Mapusua(Highlanders), Stuart Mackie (Newcastle Falcons), Richie Rees (Ospreys).
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OUT: Kieron Dawson (Ulster), Paul Franze (returned to RL), Ryan Strudwick (returned to South Africa), Paul Gustard, Ross Laidlaw, Rodd Penney (all Saracens), Adrian Flavin (Connacht), Matt Banahan (Bath).
FANS’ GUIDE
HOW HAVE IRISH IMPROVED THE MATCH-DAY EXPERIENCE AT THE MADEJSKI?
Entertainment has been expanded, with new bands under the North Stand pre and post-match. Digger and Jumbo, the club’s mascots, have a new pal, Duggie.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL DATES FOR THE DIARY?
The St Patrick’s Day celebration match on March 18 against London Wasps promises to be bigger than ever.
HOW POPULAR ARE THEIR SEASON TICKETS?
Sales are just under 4,000; it would be a club record if sales pass that figure as expected.
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SO THERE ARE STILL QUITE A FEW TICKETS AVAILABLE?
Up to 20,000 tickets available for each home match. These can be bought 12 weeks in advance.
DO ANY CELEBRITIES ENJOY THE CRAIC AT THE MADEJSKI?
Terry Wogan, Richard Dunwoody (former jockey) and Barry McGuigan (former boxer) are all regular visitors.
SQUAD
BACKS: D Armitage (nationality: Eng), J Bishop (Ire), M Catt (Eng), B Everitt (Ire), D Feau’nati (Sam), R Flutey (NZ), P Hodgson (Eng), M Horak (Eng*), S Mapusua (Sam), N Mordt (Zim), T Ojo (Eng), R Rees (Wales), S Tagicakibau (Sam), G Tiesi (Arg), B Willis (NZ).
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FORWARDS: S Armitage (Eng), R Casey (Ire), D Coetzee (SA), M Collins (NZ), D Danaher (Eng), D Fitter (Aus), N Hatley (Eng), J Hudson (Eng), N Kennedy (Eng), T Lea’aetoa (Ton), J Leguizamon (Arg), S Mackie (Eng), O Magne (Fr), A McCullen (Ire), P Murphy (Can), D Paice (Aus), F Rautenbach (SA), K Roche (Eng), R Russell (Sco), R Skuse (Eng), R Thorpe (Eng), T Warren (Eng).
*South African-born
ONE TO WATCH
RIKI FLUTEY
Made a big impression at fly half in his first season at Irish, but the club feel there is far more to come from this rare talent
FIXTURES
September
2 Harlequins (h, Twickenham)
8 London Wasps (a)
16 Bristol (h)
22 Newcastle Falcons (a)
30 Saracens (h)
October
8 London Wasps (a)
15 Sale Sharks (h)
20 Llanelli Scarlets (h)
29 Toulouse (a)
November
4 Bath (a)
10 Gloucester (h)
18 Leicester (a)
26 Northampton (h)
December
1 Cardiff Blues (a)
9 Ulster (h)
15 Ulster (a)
22 Worcester (a)
26 Leicester (h)
January
1 Gloucester (a)
7 Saracens (h)
12/13/14 Toulouse (h)
19/20/21 Llanelli Scarlets (a)
28 Saracens (a)
February
17 Bath (h)
23 Sale Sharks (a)
March
3 Newcastle Falcons (h)
10 Bristol (a)
18 London Wasps (h)
April
7 Harlequins (a)
15 Worcester (h)
28 Northampton (a)
KEY
Premiership
EDF Anglo-Welsh Cup
Heineken Cup