The Exiles take the Premiership by Storm (London Irish Rugby)

Member Name: Mildew82

Product:	London Irish Rugby
Date:	20/09/09 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Extremely exciting rugby with lots of family fun

Disadvantages: Depressing when they lose

After becoming more and more despondent with the atmosphere at live football (Reading FC), my attention was gradually turned towards rugby union and the Guinness Premiership for a much more relaxed and inviting atmosphere (London Irish being my local team). After attending the occasional match for the previous two seasons I decided to take the plunge and become a fully fledged season ticket holder for London Irish at the Madejski Stadium for the 2009/2010 season.


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History of the Club
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London Irish RFC, also known as the Exiles, were formed in 1898 and had much strife in their formation. The club was set up by a high class bunch of Irishmen including lawyers and entrepreneurs for the young Irishmen of London (as the name suggests) in the same vein as London Welsh and London Scottish, kind of like a home away from home.

London Irish even managed to pick up an Irish international to boost the team in the form of S J "Cags" Cagney who had 13 caps for Ireland between 1925 and 1929 and brought London Irish great success as captain. But sadly London Irish were decimated by the two World Wars and the Easter Rising in Ireland 1916. Many players were part of the Irish Regiments who lost their lives in the 1914-1918 war and nine players lost their lives serving in the Second World War whilst many others stayed in Ireland after the war had finished.

London Irish found at home originally at Sunbury on Thames in south-west London. But, the grounds were taken back by the Ministry of Agriculture to grow food for the capital shortly after the outbreak of WW2 and the state of the ground was so dreadful after the war they were forced to relocate to Blackheath.

The 50s were a period of rebuilding for London Irish which finally culminated in an amazing 1959/60 season where they only lost 2 games. Through an increased commitment to training and a much more serious attitude throughout the 60s and into the 70s in the 1976/77 season when the first club tables were introduced London Irish won the London Division by winning 6/7 games.

The 80s saw a bit of decline for London Irish. They started with a high in 1980 by finishing top of the RFU Club Merit Table for London and getting to the final of the John Player Cup at Twickenham. But then work pressures started affecting the first team players as they began to miss training sessions and the team were stuck in division two of the newly introduced John Smith Merit Tables by 1986. But they managed to get to division one by 1991.

Financial struggles were to follow however, as London Irish, amongst many of the other senior clubs, found that operating costs were exceeding income, but they were saved by the generosity of some key benefactors.

The team then became professional in the 1995/96 season. The Rugby Football Union decided that the two divisions that made up the Courage Clubs Championship as it was now called should expand and the clubs that joined should operate on a professional basis, to which London Irish were happy to oblige. In 2000 London Irish relocated again to the Madejski Stadium where they have an agreement to remain until 2025.


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Pricing
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Match-day Prices
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Stand ------------ Category ---------- Advanced Prices ---- Match-day Prices

South ------------ Adult ----------------------- £20 ------------------- £23
-------------------- Concession --------------- £10 ------------------- £13
-------------------- Under 16------------------- £7 -------------------- £10
----------------- Family (1 Adult 2 U16s) ---- £30 ------------------ £38
----------------- Family (2 Adults 2 U16s) --- £50 ------------------ £60
West Lower ---- Adult ------------------------ £25 ------------------ £29
(corner)-----------Concession ---------------- £12 ------------------ £15
-------------------- Under 16 ------------------- £8 -------------------- £11
East ------------- Adult ------------------------ £25 ------------------ £29
-------------------- Concession ---------------- £12 ------------------ £15
---------------------Under 16 ------------------- £8 ------------------- £11
East Premium -- Adult ------------------------ £28 ------------------ £32
-------------------- Concession --------------- £22 ------------------ £25
-------------------- Under 16 ------------------- £22 ------------------ £25
West Lower ---- Adult ------------------------ £27 ------------------ £32
-------------------- Concession ---------------- £14 ------------------ £17
-------------------- Under 16 ------------------- £10 ------------------ £13
West Premium -- Adult ----------------------- £30 ------------------ £36
-------------------- Concession ---------------- £24 ------------------ £29
-------------------- Under 16 ------------------- £24 ------------------ £29
West Upper ---- Adult ------------------------ £30 ------------------ £35
-------------------- Concession ---------------- £15 ------------------ £18
-------------------- Under 16 ------------------- £12 ------------------ £15


Season Tickets
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Stand ------ Adult ---- Concession --- Under 16 -- Family 1Ad/2 Ad & 2 U16

South ------ £240 ---- £130 ----------- £95 ---------------- £380/£595
WLC ------- £295 ---- £150 ----------- £110
East -------- £295 ---- £150 ----------- £110
EP ---------- £330 ---- £265 ----------- £265
WL --------- £320 ---- £165 ----------- £130
WLP-------- £360 ---- £290------------ £290
WU --------- £360 ---- £180 ----------- £150

I opted for the South Stand (unreserved) and that is absolutely nothing to do with it being the cheapest and me being a cheapskate - nothing at all. The great advantage to being in the South stand is that you don't have assigned seats so you can choose where you want to sit each time and be able to sit with any friends that may wish to join you and you will get an excellent view of one of the try-lines.


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Season Ticket Benefits
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As taken straight from the website in case I get done for plagiarising:

* A guaranteed seat to all regular season pool home matches: 11 Guinness Premiership, 3 Heineken Cup and 2 other matches
* Complimentary ticket for London Double Header (London Irish will play away to either London Wasps or Saracens)
* A superb discounted rate against match day prices (as much as 50% discount)
* Exclusive Season Ticket Holder discount of 10% on Full Priced London Irish merchandise
* Invitation to exclusive events, including Meet the Players and Coaches
* Exclusive season book, including season preview, squad profiles, match information as well as fabulous promotions including exclusive ticket deals
* Discount on places at the 2009/10 End of Season Dinner
* Special Exclusive Promotions & Competitions during the season
* Allows application for England International Tickets at Twickenham (Not available to Under 16 Season Ticket holders)
* NEW FOR 09/10: U12 Season Ticket Holders will receive a complimentary membership of the Digger Club
* NEW FOR 09/10: All Adult Season Ticket Holders have the right to claim one Under 8 Season Ticket absolutely FREE!


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Current Players
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Backs
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Delon Armitage - Fullback
Charlie Gower - Centre
Paul Hodgson - Scrumhalf
Tom Homer - Centre
Alfredo Lalanne - Scrumhalf
Ryan Lamb - Flyhalf
Jamie Lennard - Flyhalf
Chris Malone - Flyhalf
Seilala Mapusua
Topsy Ojo - Wing
Peter Richards - Scrumhalf
Elvis Seveali'i - Wing
Ben Stevenson - Flyhalf
Sailosi Tagicakibau - Wing
Adam Thompstone - Centre


Forwards
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Steffon Armitage - Back Row
James Buckland - Hooker
"Big" Bob Casey - Lock
Danie Coetzee - Hooker
Alex Corbisiero - Prop
Declan Danaher - Back Row
Clarke Dermody - Prop
Jonathan Fisher - Back row
Chris Hala'ufia - Back Row
Peter Hewat - Fullback
Paulica Ion - Prop
Gary Johnson - Lock
Nick Kennedy - Lock
Dan Murphy - Prop
David Paice - Hooker
Andy Perry - Lock
Faaun Rautenbach - Prop
Kieran Roche - Lock
George Stowers - Back Row
Richard Thorpe - Back Row
James Tideswell - Prop

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Star Players
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Captain
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Bob Casey - Solid, dependable "Big" Bob Casey keeps the team in line, forces discipline in the line-outs and scrums and provides the backbone of the team.

England Stars
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Delon Armitage - Fast, enthusiastic, inventive with an exceptional work rate that prevents stagnancy in the team. An exciting talent for both London Irish and England.

Steffon Armitage - Delon's brother, also a contender for England. Whilst not being as high profile as his brother he is very quick and very effective in ruck turnovers.

Nick Kennedy - Strong in rucks and excellent at turning over possession in line-outs.

Paul Hodgson - Excellent strategist - initiates inventive moves from scrum and ruck situations


Defence Breakers
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These are the players for me that are always exceptionally exciting and look like they can break through an opponent's defence and get the ultimate prize of a try. They're fast, solid and dangerous.

Seilala Mapusua
Topsy Ojo
Sailesi Tagicakibau


Ones to Watch
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Those players that are growing in accolade and are tipped to do well this season.

Ryan Lamb
George Stowers
Tom Homer
Jon Fisher


The Ones that Got Away
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Some great names that London Irish can boast to giving a boost in their future careers:

Rickey Flutey
Paul Sackey
Shane Geraghty



The Acadamy
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The London Irish Academy is a great initiative started in 2001 which is in place to aid in the development of young players and hopes to bring about future success for London Irish. Some of the players that made it through the ranks are:

Delon Armitage
Topsy Ojo
Nick Kennedy


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Match-day Atmosphere or why rugby is better than football
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A London Irish match for me is everything a Reading football match was not. Towards the end of my football viewing career I always felt very uncomfortable.

1. As in any football match the home and away fans are segregated to prevent mass violence. Already not a nice atmosphere.

2. You can't walk anywhere around the stadium without seeing a police officer on foot or horse.

3. You are requested to hand over any bottle lids in case you are taken over by a wild impulse to throw your full bottle of deadly liquid into the crowd and potentially maiming someone.

4. The atmosphere during the match is one of aggression and antagonism between the two groups of supporters with horrible, unimaginative and mundane chants echoing round the stadium, angry people shouting out vicious comments and where you find the majority of supporters are turning their focus to mocking the oppositions' supporters rather than actually watching the match they've just paid for.

5. When leaving the stadium after the completion of the match you may be unable to take the quickest route in fear that you may inadvertently meet some away fans head on thus resulting in more mass violence.

To say that the atmosphere at a London Irish rugby much is one of complete contrast is a bit of an understatement.

1. Fans are free to sit wherever they like with no threat of hostility.

2. There is not a police officer in sight.

3. There are no bottle lid police patrolling to confiscate your weapons of mass destruction.

4. No mundane chants here - just clean and fun club based tunes that keep spirits in the jovial way they should be.

5. You're free to wander where you like after a match and talk to whoever you want.


The atmosphere is always one of sprightly excitement, chilled relaxation (probably to do with all the red bearded costumed Irishmen strolling around with their Guinness) and great anticipation on a London Irish match-day. On special family days and St. Patrick 's Day (Paddy's Day) there is always a fun bonanza of entertainment ranging from fairground attractions on family days and live music and bouncy castles on Paddy's Day to create a fantastic pre-match buzz.

On ordinary match-days there is also great half time entertainment with lots of U-7s rugby matches competing all over the pitch, or a group of you girls performing Irish jigs for the delight of the crowd (often invaded by slightly drunken fat men with delusions of dancing talent) which keeps up the relaxed spirit of the crowd.

Oh yeah - plus the rugby is pretty exciting too.

I remember the days when you would go and watch London Irish play and there would be a lot of driving and kicking, but no results. You might see a game that was - 9-6 all in penalties and wouldn't exactly inspire you. But over the last few seasons - which I suspect is inspired greatly by Mike Catt as the new Attack coach - they are now an explosive, inventive and thoroughly entertaining team. Obviously any team can have an off game, but I now always expect great things from London Irish.

At the end of the last season they seemed to pick up a strange syndrome whereby they would have a disastrous first half and be about 17 - 22 points behind and then begin a seemingly miraculous fight back in the second half only to lose agonisingly by a few points. Life with the Exiles was certainly never boring.

At the start of this 2009/10 season this trend seemed to continue. I was fortunate enough to see them play at the Double Header at Twickenham against Saracens where once again they had a disastrous first half and went down 18-3 at half time. Then cue the fight back where they got the score to 18-14 before squandering a golden opportunity to get a winning try that would have truly been an epic victory. Still at least they got the bonus point.

But just when you think the trend from the previous season was continuing, next up was Gloucester. This was a fantastically one-sided match with London Irish dominating for the majority of the game and with 4 superb tries against 1 and a score of 40-10 romped home to a fun filled victory. The next match away to Leeds seems to have been just as explosive with a 7-56 victory and a staggering 7 tries which places them in a healthy third place.

The future is certainly looking bright for London Irish!

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Conclusion
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London Irish are an extremely exciting rugby team who will never fail to entertain. With a great atmosphere and exciting pre-match jovialities on special match days which are great for the whole family and with fairly cheap tickets at a minimum of £20 / £7 for adults and kids any match would be a great day out for rugby fans and kids alike, particularly Paddy's Day where fun is compulsory and you will be swept away on a green sea of merriment.

Give it a try - you might end up buying a season ticket like me where the benefits just keep getting better and better!

Summary: A great day out for rugby fans and kids alike