Some late fitness tests will take place tomorrow and therefore the team for this week's match against Narbonne will be announced at 10 am tomorrow.  Please check the website for details.

PLAYER NEWS

Paul Sackey was taken by ambulance from Madejski Stadium to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading for a precautionary x-ray following Sunday's match.

The x-ray confirmed that Paul had not suffered a serious injury. He was released from hospital that night and sent home.

He is in the care of the club's medical department and may be fit to travel to France for Saturday's match.

Barry Everitt has been struggling with a re-curring hamstring muscle probem for six weeks. He has been diligently managing the injury with the support and guidance of the club's medical staff. However, each time he has come near to achieving match fitness, the muscle has failed the test.

Barry is once again approaching full fitness. The player and the medical and coaching staff are optimistic that he is within days of returning to action.

FIXTURE NEWS
Parker Pen Challenge Cup Quarter-Final Home Leg on 24th January

Should London Irish qualify for the quarter-final stage of the Parker Pen Challenge Cup, then the home leg will be played at Madejski Stadium on Saturday, 24th January, kick-off at 3.00pm.

This match will be against either Connacht or Pau. As a Season Ticket holder, you will need to purchase your seat(s) and this can only be done via the Ticket Hotline on 0118 968 1000. We will send you details of the cost of the match tickets following the 2nd Leg on Saturday 17th January.

Further details will be announced shortly after next Saturday's round two away match in Narbonne. 

Gloucester away fixture confirmation

London Irish will be away to Gloucester in the Zurich Premiership on Friday, 16 April 2004, kick off 7.45pm. This is an alteration to our first issued fixture list.

PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP QUARTER FINAL HOSPITALITY OFFER

As you may know, should we qualify for the quarter finals after this Saturday's away leg against Narbonne we will play our quarter final home leg on Saturday 24th January against either Pau or Connacht!

As an additional match to our schedule fixtures this match will not be included in any seasonal hospitality packages.

Please contact us to provisionally reserve any hospitality places you require and we will contact you as soon as we know that match will be taking place, to confirm your booking.  Credit card payment will be required at that time.

Hospitality package prices (including VAT) for this match will be:

Hospitality Box excluding catering   £ 600
Exiles                                                £  80
Avenue                                              £  60
Founders                                           £  40

Places are available on a first come, first served basis so please make a reservation to avoid disappointment.

Please telephone Abigail on 01932 750114 or Kelly on 01932 750113.

abigail.findlay@london-irish.com or kelly.adey@london-irish.com

HOLIDAY COACHING WEEK CONFIRMED

Wokingham Sport & Leisure in association with London Irish will be running children's holiday rugby activities at Redingensians RFC during 2004. The first of these will be held from 16th February to 20th February. Run as part of London Irish's community rugby programme, coaching will be provided by RFU qualified coaches and the week will feature a visit from London Irish. The week's activities are designed to improve rugby skills in an enjoyable way, and are ideal for individual children or for a group of children from a club's mini section or school.

Picture courtesy of www.sports-alive.com
 
The rugby activity is open to children between the ages of 8 and 13. Each age group will receive coaching in accordance with the RFU continuum for age group rugby. Additionally, each participant will receive a ticket to a Zurich Premiership match!!
 
For further information and a booking form contact Wokingham Sport & Leisure:
 
Telephone:        0118 940 3861
Fax:                  0118 940 6568
e-mail:              enquiries@wokinghamsport.co.uk
web:                 www.wokinghamsport.co.uk

INTERVIEW WITH......

This week we have interviewed Geoff Appleford, next week Paddy Gill will answer your questions. If you have any questions you would like us to put to Paddy please email them to info@london-irish.com

ENJOY THE BENFITS OF THE LONDON IRISH MASTERCARD

Be a true London Irish supporter and support your club in more ways than one! By applying for the London Irish Rugby MasterCard you can help us to strengthen your favourite team now and in the future - at no extra cost to you!

Plus, apply today and you could win a day out in a Hospitality Suite at Twickenham for you and 11 friends at the 2004 Zurich Premiership Final! Once you use your London Irish Rugby MasterCard, you will be eligible to win one of two fantastic days out at Twickenham in a hospitality suite for you and up to 11 friends at the 2004 Zurich Premiership Final at Twickenham on 29th May 2004 provided your club is one of the finalists. Tickets are included, and in addition the winner's account will be credited with £250 as a contribution towards food and drink. Closing date is 17th May 2004.

For full details please visit the website.

THE BLARNEY

Over 9,000 people have currently subscribed to the Blarney; do you forward this to your mates? Or do you print it out and pass it around? Well, why not provide us with their e-mail address so that they can receive their own personal copy.

E-mail Jon Salinger (jon.salinger@london-irish.com) with e-mail addresses. Let us try and spread the word of London Irish to a much greater audience.