Mike Catt and Scott Staniforth will make their Zurich Premiership debuts for London Irish on Saturday.  The Australian international scored eight tries in the Exiles' three pre-season matches. Another new signing, Scottish international hooker, Robbie Russell is named among the replacements.  Delon Armitage, a member of the club's Academy squad who played at full back for England in the IRB Under 21 championship in June, starts at full back. A mini-injury crisis has already restricted selection options with six senior players ruled out of action. Unavailable for selection due to injury are: Justin Bishop (hamstring), Declan Danaher (hamstring), Adam Halsey (foot), Rodd Penney (hamstring), Peter Poulos (shoulder) and Doug Wheatley (hand).

Looking forward to the Double Header, Head Coach, Gary Gold said, "We have had a good pre-season, the players have worked hard.  Now, it is time for the real action to start and what better place to do so than at Twickenham in front of a 40,000 plus crowd.

"Our team has strength and experience in both backs and forwards, all of them want to start the new Premiership campaign on a winning note.  However, that will be difficult against a talented Harlequins team who had the better of our meetings last season."

LONDON DOUBLE HEADER

Tickets for this weekend's Premiership opener, when London Irish take on NEC Harlequins and Saracens play London Wasps at Twickenham, are still available.  For tickets please call Ticketmaster on 0870 902 0000 (booking fees apply).

Don't forget that there is plenty going on pre and post match - music from the Melody Fakers and Le Cheile, face painting and the new London Irish merchandise will also be on sale. (Season Ticket Holders please note: you will need to show your new card to receive your discount on Saturday).

Also, from 1.00pm to 1.30pm, some of the non-playing squad will be signing autographs in the London Irish dome in the West Car Park.

Please note: We've been advised by Premier Rugby that cars will not be parked bumper to bumper in either the West or North Car Parks and there will be room for picnics etc., although barbecues are still prohibited.

GLOUCESTER v LONDON IRISH - TICKET INFO

Tickets for London Irish's game away at Gloucester on Saturday 11th September (KO 3pm) went on sale yesterday.

The opening home game of the season for Gloucester is set to have a superb atmosphere with the new 3,000 covered seated East Stand opening on the day.
 
St. Clare's Travel are handling all away tickets for London Irish this season.  Please contact Clare or Tony on 01344 641524 (office hours) or by tony.stclares@ntlworld.com.  For further details, please visit the Away Tickets page on the website.

SEASON STARTS, FRIENDSHIP STOPS!

On the 4th of September friends become enemies as rugby's best get back to the day job. During the World Cup, England's finest were best of pals - but they're all back playing for their clubs now in the Zurich Premiership, the best domestic league in the world. And some of them it seems, will do anything to grab their team the glory.

Visit www.friendshipstops.com and you'll see how low some of the biggest names in rugby will go. All in the name of fun, of course. See Will Greenwood get the better of Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt, with a little help from some big bikers. Or check out Mike Tindall's Whack a Player, a superb game of skill, speed and agility. It's all kicking off before a ball's even been passed, get to www.friendshipstops.com now.

SHANE GERAGHTY SELECTED FOR RFU NATIONAL ACADEMY

London Irish is one of only seven of the Premiership clubs to have a player selected today for the Rugby Football Union's 2004-5 Junior National Academy by Academy Manager, Brian Ashton.

Eighteen year old Shane Geraghty joined the Exiles' Academy in early summer. He has already played for England Under 18 and for the Ireland youth team. His talent was spotted by London Irish's Academy management team, Corin Palmer and Toby Booth, who invited him to join their Sunbury squad.

Thirty players hoping for selection to the National Academy trained under Ashton and his coaching staff at the University of Bath in August. The 16 he has selected will now attend two more JNA camps this year before aiming for selection in January to the England Under 19 squad.

Ashton has high hopes for the Junior National Academy players. "These 16 players have shown they have the ability to handle all types of pressure both on and off the pitch. The five weeks training at the University of Bath was undoubtedly arduous for all of them and taught them much. We have now identified those we feel are ready and capable of taking the next step into the academy," said Mr Ashton.

HEADLINES YOU MAY HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK
(click on the headline to see the story)

- London Irish Telecom Offers Free Calls*
- Leicester Tigers Hospitality Prize Draw
- Points mean Pints!!! Tigers Match
- Successful Season Ticket Holder Nights
- Big Win For Irish at Sunbury

 
THE BLARNEY

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