London Irish has announced the team for the pre-season away match against Ulster this coming Friday.  The replacements are as follows: Adrian Flavin, Doug Wheatley, Pierre Durant, Ryan Strudwick, Phil Murphy*, Kevin Barrett, Barry Everitt and Justin Bishop*.

*Denotes International

PLAYER NEWS

Good luck to Kieron Dawson who is on the bench for Ireland when they take on Italy this Saturday, 30th August, at Thomond Park. 

ACADEMY UPDATE

Since the start of the pre-season training phase on 7th July, the Academy have risen to the challenge and enjoyed training alongside the senior squad.  The professional environment has tested each athlete on a daily basis and the progress they have made has been encouraging.  We now have 18 full time athlets training every day augmented by 3 at school, who will return to their studies in September.

Several players are now challenging for a place in the 1st XV, and wing Delon Armitage has been rewarded for his excellent progress in starting against Narbonne and this Friday against Ulster.  Another 5 players have travelled to Ireland with the senior squad for the pre-season tour: Nils Mordt (centre), David Paice (prop), Ross Laidlaw (fly half), Rhys Buckler (lock) and Ed Hoadley (wing).

Topsy Ojo has been named in Brian Ashton's National Academy and will train alongside a very select group of idenitified athletes on a regular basis as well as feature for the second season in the England U19 squad.

The Academy players will play alongside the senior squad in the newly formed Zurich Premiership Development League which commences on 6th December.  Each Premiership club will compete in two pools (north and south, home and away) with a semi-final and final at the end of the season.  The fixture list for this league is being compiled and will be published as soon as we receive it from Premier Rugby.  Before this league starts, a number of friendlies have been arranged.  The list of fixtures can be found in the fixtures section.

Delon Armitage is the next player to feature in 'An Interview with....' , e-mail your questions for him to info@london-irish.com

'RETURN OF THE CRAIC'

London Irish will kick off the new rugby season by throwing a massive party at the Madejski Stadium for our first home game against Gloucester on Sunday, 21st September (KO 3pm).

The Exiles' players and supporters are eagerly anticipating the return of rugby to the Madejski Stadium after the summer break. In addition to the big match a full afternoon of family entertainment is guaranteed on the 21st when the Craic returns to the Madejski! A live open air concert will start at 12noon and continue after the match. The stars of the stage will be Le Chéile and riverway, with a special guest appearance by Fame Academy's Malachi. 

Guinness are bringing along extra trailers to keep the grown ups happy, while a bouncy castle and face painters will entertain the kids! The Dunlop Academy of Irish Dance will be performing during the afternoon and Digger the Irish Wolfhound will be trying to get back on form as he trains for the Mascot Grand National!

Pat Coyne, Commercial Director of London Irish, comments: "We're celebrating the start of our fourth season at the Madejski with a traditional London Irish party! We're trying to smash last season's attendance records and are planning a huge game (both on and off the pitch) against Gloucester. The atmosphere should be fantastic on the 21st and I'm sure our established fans and lots of new ones will come down to support the team and enjoy the Craic!"

For Ticket Information click here.

EXILES CLUB OFFER FOR THE 'RETURN OF THE CRAIC'

We have a limited number of spaces available in our Exiles Club for the first game of the season.  Enjoy a three course buffet meal then watch us take on Gloucester on Sunday 21st September from the comfort of a luxury hospitality seat on the half way line.

As this is our opening match of the 2003/2004 season, we are offering the package at last season's price of £100 inc. VAT per person.

If you would like to join us, please contact Kelly on 01932 750113 or e-mail kelly.adey@london-irish.com

PLAYER SPONSORSHIP

TALES FROM THE CRAIC
Supplied by Paul Looby (Camberley)

The children were lined up in the cafeteria of a Catholic elementary school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples.
The nun made a note, and posted on the apple tray: "Take only ONE. God is watching."  Moving further along the lunch line, at the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note, "Take all you want. God is watching the apples."

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales. The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.
The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.
Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible. The little girl said, "When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah." The teacher asked, "What if Jonah went to hell?"
The little girl replied, "Then you ask him."
 
 
The children had all been photographed, and the teacher was trying to persuade them each to buy a copy of the group picture. "Just think how nice it will be to look at it when you are all grown up and say, 'There's Jennifer; she's a lawyer,' or 'That's Michael.  He's a doctor."
A small voice at the back of the room rang out, "And there's the teacher. She's dead."

THE BLARNEY

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