London Irish issue latest ‘sustainable comeback’ update after nine months of ‘frustration and reward’
London Irish players celebrate a try during their final match in May 2023 and, inset, the late Eddie Jordan.
London Irish have insisted their plan to return to professional rugby is still viable despite a difficult year in which they lost “talisman” Eddie Jordan.
It was at the end of the 2022/23 Premiership season in England that the club fell into administration, resulting in players and staff losing their jobs, and it has yet to return to the pitch in the two and a half years since then.
The Exiles were one of three top-flight professional clubs that financially collapsed that season. Worcester, the first to go, have since been revived and are taking part in this season’s Championship, where they are in second place after winning five of their seven matches.
Wasps’ hopes of returning in time to also play in this season’s revamped Championship fell by the wayside. At the same time, London Irish were only bought out of administration last February by a consortium led by Jordan, the ex-Formula One racing boss, who died the following month.
“Our cheeky scrum-half…”
Jordan’s passing in Cape Town slammed the brakes on Irish’s grand plan to make a quick return to professional rugby following its takeover, but the consortium is adamant that a comeback will eventually happen.
In a message providing the latest update, they reiterated that their belief in a professional rugby revival is “stronger than ever”. The message was accompanied by a video launching their new range of kit, just in time for Christmas.
A message posted on the club’s official LinkedIn page read: “Over the past 18 months, we’ve been working behind the scenes to bring London Irish RFC back to professional rugby in West London. Just as our effort became public, we lost our talisman, our cheeky scrum-half, the inimitable Eddie Jordan.
“The past 9 months have been a mix of frustration and reward. Here’s how it’s going:
- We continue to make progress on a sustainable comeback but it’s not straightforward.
- We’ve met so many more of the London Irish family, and our belief that this is worthwhile is stronger than ever.
“When the winds are against us, we think of EJ’s words: ‘Believe. If you don’t believe 100 per cent, you’re doomed’. (Other words may have been used, but like plenty of what EJ said, they’re unprintable).
“Today, we are launching our BELIEVE video to inspire and remind us why this is worth it, and channel EJ’s energy. Keep an eye out for the launch of our BELIEVE range of London Irish kit, with the support of Tixr and Macron.
“All proceeds go to the London Irish Foundation and London Irish Amateur RFC to support their amazing community efforts. Wear your badge with pride and support our family. Come on you Irish!”