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It's official, promoted London Irish are back where they feel they belong

Ben Loader of London Irish celebrates promotion to the Premiership (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Ten years after their only ever appearance in a Premiership final, London Irish are back among the English elite following their Good Friday Championship title-clinching win at Richmond.

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Irish’s fortunes have never been the same since that heady day they went toe-to-toe with Leicester in the 2009 league decider, a match they agonisingly lost by a point at Twickenham.

Since then they have gradually faded away, their insignificance summed by two relegations from the top flight in the past three seasons.

However, they will feel they are returning to the Premiership on this occasion a far more robust operation who can stay there and thrive, putting an end to their frustrating yo-yo existence.

An agreed ground-share with Brentford FC will see the club move back into London in 2020 following a 20-year stint at Reading and with Declan Kidney, the former Ireland and Munster title-winning coach assembling a squad with a stellar cast of names that includes Sean O’Brien, hopes will be high that Irish are back in the Premiership to stay.

Having taken over in the last few weeks of last season’s relegation campaign, Kidney laid the groundwork for their Premiership return by getting his current squad to largely lay waste to their Championship opposition and their promotion became official on the back of their 46-7 Good Friday win at Richmond.

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The Exiles crossed for eight tries in total, bouncing back dominantly after the hosts crossed for the first try through Jesse Liston. Irish replied immediately, Albert Tuisue powering his way over, and Ben Loader then finished in the corner to hand Kidney’s team a lead they were never to relinquish.

Loader added his second after Byrce Campbell had chipped in, and further tries followed from TJ Ioane (two), Josh McNally and Alivereti Veitokani.

That was more than enough to give Irish their 19th win in 21 Championship outings, putting them out of reach of second place Ealing Trailfinders.

London Irish’s Joshua McNally breaks clear to score a try during the Greene King IPA Championship match at Richmond on Good Friday (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
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M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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LONG READ How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions
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