Id rather be a Paddy than a Quinn (London Irish Rugby)

Member Name: Andy.mack

Product:	London Irish Rugby
Date:	18/09/02 (193 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fantastic Atmosphere

Disadvantages: None

After being a life long football fan I was convinced to go along to the Madjeski stadium on St Patrick’s Day this year to watch London Irish v Bristol Shoguns. After this first taste of rugby I was hooked and went to all the remaining home games last season and am now a season ticket holder this year.

So I thought id write this op on my new found love for Rugby and one team in particular. This was also a change to give people a bit of an insight into the London Irish one of the best-supported teams in the Northern Hemisphere. And who knows maybe after reading this a few more of you will take a trip down to Reading on a Sunday afternoon.

History

Founded back in 1988/99 season the London Irish have not had the most successful time on the honours front although they are the current Powergen Cup Winners. But despite success on the Domestic scene they have produced countless Irish captains and international players.

After the formation of the professional Rugby era in August 1996 London Irish came into the first division and with them brought a wealth of new internationals including Conor O’Shea, Gabriel Fulcher and Jeremy Davidson who was selected for the British Lions tour of South Africa in the summer of 1997.

The spiritual home of London Irish is the Sunbury Centre in Middlesex, however it was deemed unsuitable for professional rugby and Irish were forced to move out and share with Harlequins. Until three years ago when a merger with London Scottish and Richmond saw the Irish move to Reading and there new home in the Thames Valley.

The ‘Craic’ In The Valley

Before and after every Irish home game there is the chance to enjoy the now famous in the rugby world ’Craic‘. The ’Craic’ is a philosophy London Irish have created to make it more than 80 minutes of Rugby.

This philosophy produces a unique concoction of fun, the Blarney and a good old-fashioned
knee’s up, which is there way of recreating the atmosphere of match days in Dublin. This they hope is the perfect mixture to get people coming every other Sunday.

Under the North Stand for an hour before each game and a further couple of hours afterwards there is a chance to mix with fellow fans and enjoy the music of in-house band Le Cheile performing classical Irish folk songs with a rugby twinge and of course there’s the London Irish anthem Fields of Athenry.

And as if that wasn’t enough every St Patrick’s day the Road show roles into town and they try to better the world Guiness drinking record which they already hold and successfully broke this year.

Management

Joint Chairmen - John Conlan & Kevin Clancy
Director Of Rugby - Conor O’Shea
Rugby Manager - Kieran McCarthy
Player/Coach - Brendan Venter

Players

Geoff Appleford - Centre - 1 Cap (England)
Kevin Barrett - Scrum Half
Justin Bishop - Wing/Full Back/Centre 22 Caps (Ireland)
Kevin Brennan - Scrum Half
Kevin Burke - Lock
Nick Burrows - Forward
Matthew Cannon - Inside Centre/Fly Half
Bob Casey - Lock 5 Caps (Ireland)
James Cockle - Forward
Declan Danaher - Forward
Kieron Dawson - Flanker 19 Caps (Ireland)
Glenn Delaney - Forward
Naka Drotske - Hooker 26 Caps (South Africa)
Pierre Durant - Prop Forward
Darren Edwards - Scrum Half
Barry Everitt - Fly Half
Jeff Fahrensohn - Forward Lock 2 Caps (Germany)
Adrian Flavin - Hooker
Paul Gustard - Back Row
Simon Halford - Prop Forward
Rob Hardwick - Prop 1 Cap (England)
Neal Hatley - Loosehead Prop
Rob Hoadley - Centre
Michael Horak - Fullback/Wing 1 Cap (England)
Richard Kirke - Hooker
John Lake - No. 6/7
Mark Mapletoft - Fly Half 1 Cap (England)
Hentie Marten - Scrum Half
Piter Rossow - Wing 42 Caps (South Africa)
Paul Sackey - Wing
Chris Sheasby - Forwa
rd 8 Caps (England)
Ryan Strudwick - Lock Forward Captain
Edward Thrower - Full Back
Brendan Venter - Centre/Coach 17 Caps (South Africa)
Doug Wheatley - Prop Forward
Michael Worsley - Prop Forward.



So obviously as far as Rugby Clubs go there is only one for me London Irish. So if like me you live around the Reading area and have thought about going to a game then why not give it a try you’ve got nothing to lose. The price of season tickets varies I paid £99 for mine but prices range from £99 - £245.


Contact Info.

London Irish Commercial Department
Second Floor
2 - 4 Darwin Close
Reading
Berks
RG2 0TB

Web Site: www.london-irish.com

Also a special mention if you do make it down to a London Irish game there is a collection being made for the Jarrod Cunningham fund. Jarrod is a former London Irish player who last May was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Jarrod played 82 games for Irish scoring 18 tries and 848 points. So if you do make it to the Madjeski try and make a donation for the fund.

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