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The 'devastated’ Ollie Hoskins breaks London Irish player silence
Public reaction from the playing squad at London Irish to Tuesday evening’s suspension of the financially stricken club by the RFU has been in short supply, players largely keeping their counsel as they try to absorb the enormity of the Exiles no longer having a league to play in next term.
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Wallabies international Ollie Hoskins, though, broke the silence with his passionate tweet, an emotional post that gained a lot of traction. It was 2016 when the Australian first joined London Irish and his love for the club was always evident during his time there, as seen in this insightful interview he did last year with RugbyPass.
Following the confirmation that Irish had been suspended, the front-rower tweeted: “I’m completely devastated. This club meant more to me than just a job.
“It was a legit home away from home and had people involved that I considered a part of my family. Thank you to all the fans, players and coaches over the last 7 years. It’s been incredible. I love you all.”
Hoskins’ message was warmly received, with numerous London Irish fans replying with sympathy and kind words.
Steve Jones summed up the mood, writing: “Your pride and passion shone through on and off the pitch. It was a privilege to cheer you on and gutted we might never see you again in green. Seeing you win a Wallabies cap was so gratifying and a testament to all your growth.”
Another London Irish player to tweet was Ben Atkins. He wrote: “Playing professional rugby for London Irish has always been my dream, I feel so blessed to have done it for as long as I have but also immensely gutted to have it taken away in a manner such as this. Thank you for all the support over the years.”
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Club legend Topsy Ojo, another who had spoken passionately in the past to RugbyPass about London Irish, tweeted his feelings on Wednesday morning about the dire announcement that arrived just weeks after a fifth-place finish has been secured in the 2022/23 Gallagher Premiership – their best effort in more than a decade.
“Gutted. Absolutely gutted. Didn’t have the words last night, so just spent a while reading everyone else’s messages about their fond memories. Angry, but just so sad that such a special club is gone. 125 years – should have been a year of celebration. And it didn’t have to end this way.
“I have had 20 brilliant years at this club. Good times and bad, it has been worth it all. I wouldn’t be where I am now without it and hope to continue representing the club with pride. Love to all the staff, players, coaches, wider family and especially the fans, thinking of you all.”
Ollie, your pride and passion shone through on and off the pitch. It was a privilege to cheer you on and gutted we might never see you again in green. Seeing you win a Wallabies cap was so gratifying and a testament to all your growth.
— Steve Jones (@sir_swish2262) June 6, 2023
Playing professional rugby for London Irish has always been my dream, I feel so blessed to have done it for as long as I have but also immensely gutted to have it taken away in a manner such as this, thank you for all the support over the years ?? pic.twitter.com/9pjHZ50O6V
— Ben Atkins (@Atkins_Ben) June 6, 2023
I’ve had 20 brilliant years at this club. Good times & bad it’s been worth it all. I wouldn’t be where I am now without it and hope to continue representing the club with pride. Love to all the staff, players, coaches, wider family and especially the fans, thinking of you all ?? pic.twitter.com/R5a9fU8Xf0
— Topsy Ojo (@topsy_ojo) June 7, 2023
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Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
8 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
8 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
16 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
16 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
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