FIVE LONDON IRISH PLAYERS IN ENGLAND AND BARBARIANS SQUADS

Five London Irish players have been selected to play for England and the Barbarians in the summer touring squads announced on Monday.

Mike Catt who joins London Irish on 1st July, is in the 30 man England party to tour Australia and New Zealand in June. Michael Horak and Paul Sackey are in the squad that will compete for the Churchill Cup in Canada next month. Geoff Appleford is included in the England Sevens squad for the final two rounds of the IRB World Sevens series in Bordeaux and London. Nils Mordt has been selected for the England Under 21 squad for the World Cup.

Paul Sackey has also been selected for the Barbarians tour of Scotland, Wales and England although he will not be available to play in the latter match.

PLAYER AWARDS PRESENTED

London Irish held its annual player awards ceremony last Thursday night in the elegant surroundings of the Millennium Mayfair Hotel in London's West End.

The awards ceremony, hosted by former London Irish and Ireland international winger, Niall Woods, featured video highlights of the season and an amusing interview with the recipients.

The award recipients were:

Young Player of the Season - Nils Mordt
Players' Player of the Season - Bob Casey
Try of the Season - Paul Sackey (against Gloucester 21st Sept 2003)
Player of the Season - Ryan Strudwick

This year's Hall of Fame award was presented to Dr John O'Driscoll, the great London Irish, Ireland and Lions back row forward of the late 1970s and early '80s.

Ryan Strudwick made a special presentation of behalf of the players and team management to Dirk Williams, the fitness and conditioning coach, and Richard Mack, club physiotherapist, who are leaving at the end of the month.

Commemorative shirts were presented to Barry Everitt, Michael Horak and Paul Sackey to mark their 100th games for the club during the season. Afterwards, Chris Sheasby conducted an entertaining auction in inimitable fashion.

The special event finished with dancing to the fantastic sound of Dave Finnigan's Commitments. All in all a hugely enjoyable evening for those present.

Photographs of the event can be viewed and purchased by logging onto www.digitalsportsuk.co.uk

PLAY GOLF WITH CONOR O'SHEA

Don't forget that e-drive, London Irish's 'Official Fleet Partner', are running a competition to offer supporters of London Irish the opportunity to win a round of golf with Conor O'Shea at the annual e-drive golf tournament. The golf day is being held at the superb Hempstead Forest Golf Club, Cranbrook, Kent on Friday 4th, June. The FREE prize draw is open to ALL Exiles supporters who have an official handicap and will prove to be a fantastic day for any golfer!!

Click here to enter the e-drive competition. Don't miss out, the closing date for the competition is this Friday 21st May 2004.

For further information about e-drive visit their website - www.e-drive.uk.com

PARKER PEN CHALLENGE CUP FINAL

AS Montferrand vs. NEC Harlequins
Saturday 22 May 2004,Madejski Stadium, Reading. KO 12PM

Don't miss your chance to be there to bid farewell to a rugby legend.

Jason Leonard will put on the club jersey for the last time when NEC Harlequins take on the stars of Montferrand. The 114 times capped, World Cup winning prop, will be hoping to go out in a blaze of glory as he and his NEC Harlequins team mates attempt to bring European glory to the London Club and thus book a passage into next season's Heineken Cup.

Tickets are priced at £15 and £25. Under 16s half-price, subject to availability.
 
Ticket Hotline:  0118 968 1000

Website:  www.ercrugby.com 

IRISH PLAYER SUPPORTS READING RFC AWARDS

Darren Edwards will be making an appearance at the Reading RFC Junior Dinner this Friday (21 May), as he presents the awards to outstanding club players from last season.

After presenting the awards, Darren will take part in a short question and answer session - giving the attendees the opportunity to get inside the psyche of a professional premiership rugby player!

Darren is looking forward to the evening and comments, "Reading Rugby Club have been massive supporters of London Irish since we started playing at the Madejski and it's great to have the chance to give something back to the local community by presenting their awards on Friday."

IRISH SHORTLISTED FOR MARKETING AWARDS

London Irish has been shortlisted in four out of the eight categories for this year's Premier Rugby Marketing Awards.

Irish has been shortlisted in the following groups:

- Best Match Day Experience
- Best Promotional Initiative
- Best Mascot (Digger)
- Best Club Sponsor (Guinness)

Digger is the current holder of the Best Mascot award and is keen to retain his title! He faces opposition from Bernie (Northampton Saints, and winner in 2002), Sharky (Sale Sharks) and Harley Bear (Harlequins).

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday, 28 May.

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

- AOL e-mail addresses
- Nils Mordt Interview

THE BLARNEY

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