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Paddy Jackson offline as other London Irish signings such as Naholo help drive ticket sales
London Irish have been busy on social media, getting a battalion of their new signings to post video messages to help accelerate their season ticket sales drive ahead of their return to Gallagher Premiership action.
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Waisake Naholo, Curtis Rona, Sekope Kepu and Nick Phipps – one New Zealander and three Australians – are among those to assist, but the club has opted not to court controversy by getting the under-fire Paddy Jackson to play a part in the campaign.
Along with Sean O’Brien, Jackson is a former Ireland international who has been signed to potentially reconnect the club with the Irish diaspora in the London region.
However, the Ulster and Ireland out-half, sacked by the IRFU in April 2018 for tasteless WhatsApp messages that were revealed in a court case where was found not guilty of committing rape, has been subject to negative headlines generated in recent months that have affected sponsorship of the club.
Irish will make their home match return in the Premiership when they host Sale on October 26 in Reading, but the club has a mountain to climb to regain support lost during their wilderness year in the Championship.
A message from @wnaholo ? Who else can't wait to see Waisake in a London Irish jersey?! ??
?? ? https://t.co/9O4ITfqHRI pic.twitter.com/QVQiXyuSvE
— London Irish (@LiRFC) July 18, 2019
Attendances at the Madejski Stadium plummeted to an average of just 3,770 per Championship match, a figure not much higher than their lowest crowd for the season, the 2,067 brave souls who turned up to see them play London Scottish.
Irish did have one fixture where they demonstrated the dormant support that still exists for them, their annual St Partick’s Day party match attracting 10,106 when they hosted Doncaster.
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However, attracting a succession of five-figure attendance in the Premiership sounds like a tall order, which is why so many of their big-name new signings have been eager to help get the message out that the club is back among the English elite.
With attendances of just 3,000, London Irish's latest big play simply must pay off https://t.co/37d3SgJNIY
— liam heagney (@heagneyl) December 30, 2018
All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo said in his message: “I’m really excited to come over to London and put on the London Irish jersey. Also, season tickets are on sale now so grab one. Get your friends and your family to grab one and I will see you down at the Madejski Stadium.”
Aussie Kepu also voiced his support. “I’m really excited about joining the London Irish family at the end of the year. Make sure you’re part of the journey this coming season. Jump online, purchase your season tickets and we will catch you all soon.”
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Phibbs added: “Really looking forward to getting over to London later in the year with the family. Looking forward to playing for London Irish and enjoying the boys over there.
“I already know they are doing some great things and I’m really excited to be playing in the Premiership. Really looking forward to seeing you there at the first game. Get onto the London Irish website and have a look at the membership packages. Join for the journey ahead. Cheers.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments