Test caps, the Lions, and jail: the mixed fortunes of London Irish's last PREM team

Rumours of financial strife had never been far away, but in the immediate afterglow of London Irish’s 17-14 win over Exeter on 6 May, 2023, all seemed well with the world.

Juan Martin Gonzalez crossed once in each half, either side of Tom Pearson’s try from a rolling maul, as London Irish wrapped up fifth place, their best PREM finish since reaching the 2009 final.

With a squad packed full of young talent, it promised to be the start of something special. But a month later everything came tumbling down as London Irish were wound up, owing £30m.

The club has been looking for investment ever since, and finally that search is over with the news on Friday that new owners Gamechanger Investments Limited completed the acquisition of the club’s name, brand and associated intellectual property.

If London Irish do make it back to the PREM within the next few years, it is likely they’ll face some of the last players to pull on the famous green jersey, many of whom are still scattered around the league.

Plenty that didn’t play that day are also making an impact elsewhere, such as scrum-half Caolan Englefield and Will Joseph (both Gloucester), Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester) and Will Goodrick-Clarke (Exeter).

For others, though, it was the effectively the beginning of the end.

“I’ve been at a fair few clubs – more clubs than Tiger Woods,” fly-half/centre Rory Jennings reflected in a RugbyPass interview in August.

“That wasn’t the plan. London Irish was probably one of those clubs where I could see myself for a good few years.

“I loved my time at London Irish, it suited me perfectly in terms of everything really. The location, the way they play the game and the people around the organisation were just fantastic.

“The second year of that I started to play some good rugby and be part of a good team and one that was probably going to do well for the next five years-plus. It’s a shame the way it went.”

Here’s what happened to the 23 that took to the field for the final time in the PREM, with their current club in brackets, where applicable.

15. Henry Arundell (Bath)
His embryonic England career was put on hold after he signed for Racing 92 following London Irish’s demise. Worked his way back in, once it was announced he was returning to the Prem to join Bath, memorably scoring five tries against Chile at RWC 2023.

14. Ben Loader (Gloucester)
Made 75 appearances for the Exiles over six years before heading to South Africa to join the Stormers. A Kingsholm regular this season, Loader is finally showing why the Cherry & Whites were so excited to sign him the summer before last.

13. Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol)
Has hardly been out of the rugby news since establishing himself as a key cog in Bristol’s all-court backline. Ended his wait for Test rugby when capped by England in the summer.

12. Rory Jennings (retired)
One of rugby’s most nomadic players quit pro rugby this summer after being released by Cardiff and is now playing for Rosslyn Park in National League 1.

11. Lucio Cinti (Saracens)
Approaching 50 caps for Argentina, at 26 years of age. Now in his fourth season with Saracens.

10. Paddy Jackson (Lyon)
In his fourth season in France. Suffered a severe torn rotator cuff tendon last year that required surgery and sidelined him for six to eight months.

9. Ben White (Toulon)
Hasn’t looked back since London Irish’s financial collapse, becoming a star with Toulon and Scotland, and touring with the Lions.

1. Danilo Fischetti (Northampton)
One of a clutch of Italians to end up at the DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens, via Zebre. Reached a half-century of caps for the Azzurri earlier this year.

2. Agustin Creevy (retired)
Argentina’s first caps centurion and most-capped captain, who played in four Rugby World Cups. Had a brief spell at Sale Sharks, post-London Irish, before finishing his career at Benetton, aged 40.

3. Ollie Hoskins (retired)
One-cap Wallaby who announced his retirement from playing in July 2025. Made 150 appearances for Irish over seven seasons before taking the familiar path to Saracens.

4. Api Ratuniyarawa (retired)
Sentenced to two years and 10 months for sexual assault in 2024. Wasn’t attached to a club at the time.

5. Rob Simmons (Unattached)
Wallaby centurion who ended up playing in France for three seasons with Clermont. Was released by the club at the end of last season and at 37 years of age, his pro career could have run its course.

6. Matt Rogerson (retired)
Captained London Irish in their final PREM game. Made 28 appearances in two seasons for Leicester before ending up at Worcester. Hung up his boots at the end of the Champ-winning 2025/26 season.

7. Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens)
Argentina regular who was quickly snapped up by Saracens once London Irish folded.

8. So’otala Fa’aso’o (Benetton)
Had just one season at London Irish, making 13 appearances in their farewell campaign.

Replacements:

16. Mike Willemse (Ealing)
South African hooker who joined Ealing when London Irish went out of business

17. Tarek Haffar (Leicester)
Earning a reputation for himself as an England cap of the future following a move to the East Midlands, firstly at Northampton and now Leicester.

18. Lovejoy Chawatama (Bristol)
The Zimbabwean had a short spell at Harlequins before venturing west to join the Bears.

19. Josh Caulfield (Bristol)
Returned to Bristol for a second spell in the summer, having had his previous season at Ealing wiped out because of injury. Stormers away last weekend was his first appearance back in a Bears shirt.

20. Tom Pearson (Northampton)
When fit, one of the best back-rows around. However, stringing together a good run of games at Saints has been a problem.

21. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
One of Harlequins’ senior forwards whose destructive carrying has earned him 20 England caps.

22. Joe Powell (Montauban)
Joined Irish ahead of the 2022/23 season from the Rebels and made 17 appearances. Capped four times by the Wallabies before the move. Had a short-term deal at Leicester, post-London Irish, and is now at Montauban in France.

23. James Stokes (retired)
Full-back who ended his playing career in the States at RFC Los Angeles and then Chicago Hounds. Works as a sales director.