Newcastle boss Dean Richards is not known for his hyperbole which makes his assertion that London Irish are a “top two” Gallagher Premiership team so intriguing.
London Irish centre Curtis Rona scored the only try of a 22-9 Gallagher Premiership victory over Leicester and it proved just enough to give his side a happy homecoming.
London Irish will open a new chapter in their 122-year history when they host Leicester on Sunday for the first rugby game at Brentford.
In a match where the lead changed hands seven times, three-try Irish did just about enough to hand Exeter a rare Premiership defeat.
The Warriors had only won once in the Gallagher Premiership since the turn of the year.
It was last January when Andre Esterhuizen, the 113kg midfielder capped eight times by the Springboks, was announced as a Harlequins signing.