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O'Brien named skipper as London Irish select team to take on Bath

(Photo by Getty Images)

Sean O’Brien is set to skipper London Irish in what will be only his second outing for the Gallagher Premiership club since joining from Leinster in 2019. 

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It was March when the back row finally shook off the long-term injury that ruled him out of Ireland World Cup contention, taking his place in the Exiles XV that was badly hammered at high-flying Sale. 

Now, fresh from the lockdown pre-season, O’Brien will captain Declan Kidney’s Irish team when they visit Bath in their first match since the 2019/20 season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

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RugbyPass brings you the opening episode of season five of The Rugby Pod fronted by Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton

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RugbyPass brings you the opening episode of season five of The Rugby Pod fronted by Andy Goode and Jim Hamilton

Harry Elrington, Motu Matu’u and Sekope Kepu will make up the front row, with Ben Donnell and George Nott named in the second row.

Matt Rogerson is at blindside flanker, with O’Brien at openside flanker. Albert Tuisue completes the pack, wearing the No8 jersey.

Australia international Nick Phipps partners former Ireland international Paddy Jackson in the half-backs, and Terrence Hepetema and Curtis Rona renew their partnership in the centres.

London Irish academy graduates make up the back three as Ollie Hassell-Collins and Ben Loader are named on the wings, with Tom Parton starting at full-back.

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“We are excited to finally get back out on the pitch and play some rugby after a long absence away from the sport,” said Kidney. “Bath are a good side that pose a big threat. We know that this is a tough restart to the Gallagher Premiership, but we are looking forward to the test ahead.”

LONDON IRISH (v Bath, Saturday)
15 Tom Parton; 14 Ben Loader, 13 Curtis Rona, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins; 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Nick Phipps; 1 Harry Elrington, 2 Motu Matu’u, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Ben Donnell, 5 George Nott, 6 Matt Rogerson, 7 Sean O’Brien (capt), 8 Albert Tuisue.

Replacements:
16 Matt Cornish, 17 Will Goodrick-Clarke, 18 Ollie Hoskins, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Blair Cowan, 21 Ben Meehan, 22 Theo Brophy Clews, 23 Matt Williams.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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