It seems so far away, yet the new season is slowly creeping up on us. More excitingly, new signings are being announced all over the country and it’s looking to be one of the most exhilarating seasons in years in the battle for victory. For those itching for the Premiership to start, it might be good to get to know your club’s new faces a little better.
London Irish have tended to linger towards the bottom of the league table since their Premiership runners-up place in 2009. At the end of the 2013/14 season, they had finished in tenth place after winning seven out of 22 games, not the comeback Director of Rugby Brian Smith was hoping for. With the departure of game-changers such as James O’Connor and England star Marland Yarde, the Exiles have needed to bring in both strength and speed to the group. Here are the new faces set to join Irish for next season.
London Irish Signings
Sean Cox
Age: 29
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 17st 11lbs
Position: Lock
Having represented England at Under-18’s, 19’s and 20’s, Cox made his professional senior-team debut for Sale Sharks, with whom he played 93 times for. He has spent the last three seasons with Edinburgh Rugby, appearing 60 times throughout his career there. Awarded the ‘Best Newcomer’ accolade in 2012, the tenacious lock will be moving from the Scottish club to Irish with team-mate Geoff Cross.
Geoff Cross
Age: 31
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 17st 11lbs
Position: Prop
The qualified doctor had put his rugby career on the back-burner a few years ago so that he could complete his medical qualifications, but has returned to the game with fine form. He has featured in 128 games for Edinburgh and has scored 30 points along the way. After making his first international appearance in the 2009 Six Nations, Cross holds 32 caps for Scotland, his latest match being against South Africa in June 2014. As Man of the Match in 2011 against Ireland, it is clear to see that Cross can bring club and international experience to a growing Irish side.
Chris Noakes
Age: 29
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 13st 7lbs
Position: Fly Half
Noakes arrives from Blues after success in the Super Rugby, having tallied up 96 points in 15 games. His debut for Blues only came in 2013, but previously played for the Bay of Plenty for three years, scoring 117 points along the way. There will be a fight for starting place in the squad amongst the fly-half’s, with Geraghty and Humphreys coming back to the new season on good form. However, New-Zealand born Noakes is likely to miss the first few matches due to a recent operation on torn bicep tendons.
Conor Gilsenan
Age: 21
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 15st 6lbs
Position: Flanker
The Irishman is moving from Leinster but has, in recent times, been on loan to Connacht. Joining the Exiles will be a big step up for this young talent, although, having gained experience with Ireland Under-18’s, 19’s and 20’s, he impressed coaches enough to be appointed captain of the Leinster ‘A’ team (achieving 14 caps altogether with them). Gilsenan will develop his pace and flair with the London Irish, and could be one to watch in the future.
Eoin Griffin
Age: 23
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 14st 13lbs
Position: Centre
After five seasons and 71 caps for Connacht, Griffin comes to London Irish ready to compete for an established place at centre. He got 9 caps whilst representing Ireland Under-20’s, one of the matches (versus Samoa in 2010) resulted in him being given Man of the Match. In 2013 he featured in three games representing Emerging Ireland in the Tblisi Cup. He proved his capabilities by scoring a try in his debut match at senior level in 2010, and has continued to work hard within the team.
Daniel Leo
Age: 31
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 17st 8lbs
Position: Lock
Leo made his test debut for Samoa aged 23 in 2005, and since then has represented his country at both the 2007 and 2011 World Cup’s. He also has experience in the Premiership, having made 87 appearances for Wasps from 2005 until 2010. On leaving the English Premiership, he has spent two years with USA Perpignan, and gained 51 caps for the French club.
Tom Guest
Age: 30
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 17st 0lbs
Position: Number 8
With nine seasons and more than 200 games as a Harlequins player under his belt, Guest joins Irish after a somewhat disappointing 2013/14 season after struggling to get a starting place on the team. Nevertheless, he has enjoyed success at Harlequins, being part of the Premiership winning squad in the 2012 final. The fast and formidable forward, who can also play at flanker, has improved season upon season, from his debut in 2005 and his Man of the Match in January 2008 against Sale. He was also a member of the England Team who took part in the 2007 Dubai Sevens tournament.
Luke Narraway
Age: 30
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 16st 11lbs
Position: Number 8
Another sturdy figure to vary between number eight and flanker, the England representative came through the ranks with Under-18’s, 19’s and 20’s. Narraway got his last international cap in 2009, off the back of a good 2008 campaign with England’s tour of New Zealand, where he was hailed as one of only a few in the squad who played well. With 163 appearances for Gloucester, his nine years Premiership experience will play useful for the Exiles.
Tom Court
Age: 33
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 18st 5lbs
Position: Prop
This 33 year-old prop oozes experience. Court was born in Australia but qualifies to play for Ireland due to ancestry, and scored his first international try in 2012 versus Italy. He went out with the British and Irish Lions squad in 2013 as back-up for Alex Corbisiero, an opportunity any professional player would cherish. On a club level, he has appeared 154 times for Ulster over eight seasons, and played in both the 2012 Heineken Cup Final and the Rabo Pro12 Final of 2013.
Scott Steele
Age: 21
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 13st 3lbs
Position: Scrum Half
London Irish could be the making of Steele, who has struggled for Premiership exposure as a result of Tigers favouring the likes of Ben Youngs and David Mele. In spite of this, the young Scotsman, who joined Leicester in 2011, made his Premiership debut against Newcastle in 2012 and has earned game-time in the LV= Cup. He was given captaincy for the 2013 Premiership Sevens tournament, leading Tigers to the final, where they finished runners-up. Also in 2013, Steele was part of both the Under-20’s Six Nations and Junior World Championship teams for his country.
James Short
Age: 24
Height: 6’0”
Weight: 13st 11lbs
Position: Wing
Scoring Saracens’ only try in their 2011 Premiership final victory over Leicester Tigers, Short ended that season as the club’s top try scorer. Developing through the Saracens academy, he has become a prolific winger in his seven years there, totalling more than 60 points altogether. Recently on loan to Wasps, Short will certainly appreciate Irish’s swift and speedy style of play.
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