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Watch: Epic farewell London Irish video will give you the feels
By Liam Heagney
London Irish have signed off on their brutal week by posting an emotional video on social media. The Exiles became the third Gallagher Premiership club in less than a year to fall out of English rugby, the RFU suspending them on Tuesday from all competitions in 2023/24 due to a lack of financial guarantees.
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With owner Mick Crossan unwilling to continue to bankroll the club after a decade in charge, Irish were dependent on a successful takeover by an American-led consortium. Those negotiations turned to dust, however, and it resulted in the club falling into administration on Wednesday.
The broken promises have left players and staff scrambling for employment elsewhere, but they have exited by making their presence felt on social media in a very classy way.
On Thursday, the players and staff published a heartbreaking message for their fans and they followed this up on Friday with a two-minute, 44-second video that had the eyes watering.
It began with skipper Matt Rogerson addressing his team in a pre-match dressing room huddle prior to the May 6 win over Exeter, the final match they played before their demise.
To the London Irish supporters,
From the players, coaches and staff ? pic.twitter.com/u2bs6AjiT8
— London Irish (@londonirish) June 8, 2023
“One more f***in’ time with this group. I’ve been saying it all week, one more f***in’ time… We leave nothing out there today because we are not getting it back, so let’s f***in’ go for it,” enthused the back-rower.
Next came some older footage showing ex-Wallabies international Nick Phipps firing up the team with his dressing room encouragement, reinforcing the message of how the Exiles were a special band of brothers.
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“We enjoy the good things, we celebrate, you f***in’ love together, you live together, you fight together because you are brothers… we shared everything together, now we get the f***in chance to go and enjoy it.”
Director of rugby Declan Kidney was next up, his voice in the dressing room croaking with emotion. “I couldn’t be prouder, and I wouldn’t like to be anywhere else,” he said.
“I can’t believe how much ye have grown in yourself. Ye know we have a good team. Just because we have a good team doesn’t mean we will win but it means there is no can’t. Like, why can’t we?”
What followed was a thrilling montage of London Irish in action, former stars such as Topsy Ojo and Delon Armitage running in tries, while the win-clinching score from Chandler Cunningham-South last December against Saracens was also included.
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The video finished with players and staff in a post-game huddle after last month’s win over Exeter proudly singing their club song one final time.
More than a Club, it's a family ? pic.twitter.com/NJJy2VVbWl
— London Irish (@londonirish) June 9, 2023
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Well lots to like Savea and Will obviously getting mojo back was great. Frizz looked hungry and good to see lomax and cane seem ok too. Jordie back means a lot more variation to our attack and kicking. And actually with Jordie also being another playmaker it really showed we don’t need BB at 15. Really do think we need Will at 15, Liester 11, telia 14 and then Jordie 12 and ALB at 13 Reiko had a terrible game and this game highlighted so many of his issues Chances that maybe only come his way 2-3 times in a proper game were x4-5 today and nearly everytime he got it wrong. From not passing to passsing when he should have run missed tackles, turnovers it was very evident he still is a big issue Elsewhere the Auckland props scrummed well but non existent anywhere else - nowhere near the level of Ireland French or SA props workrates. Lineout worked well and Brodie was huge around the park. I’m worried about scooter he seems to have gone down a notch since cards seems to have lost Confidence Looking good for QFs but still think the team make up could be better
Go to commentsAh, it was a game of two halves, Aaron. However, Italy’s half only lasted an eighth of the game.
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