Exiles name side to face Tigers at Welford Road

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 in London Irish, London Irish, Premiership

London Irish’s World Cup trio of Alex Corbisiero, Sailosi Tagicakibau and Jebb Sinclair will start for the Exiles tomorrow afternoon when they take on Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership at Welford Road (kick-off 3.05pm).

Jebb Sinclair will start his first game for London Irish at number 8 and Alex Corbisiero and Sailosi Tagicakibau will start their first games of the season at prop and on the wing respectively. Ross Samson will start at scrum half alongside Dan Bowden who captains the side, James Sandford will partner Bryn Evans in the second row and Steve Shingler will play alongside Shontayne Hape at outside centre.

London Irish head coach Toby Booth said:"We’ve been competitive at Leicester under my tenure, but have never won. It’s a very tough place to go. We’re up for it as there is another Premiership four points up for offer.”

London Irish team to Leicester Tigers:

15. Tom Homer; 14.Topsy Ojo*; 13. Steven Shingler; 12.Shontayne Hape*; 11.Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Dan Bowden (Captain); 9. Ross Samson; 1.Alex Corbisiero*; 2. David Paice*; 3.Paulica Ion*; 4. James Sandford; 5. Bryn Evans*; 6. Declan Danaher; 7.Jamie Gibson; 8. Jebb Sinclair*

Replacements: 16. James Buckland; 17. Max Lahiff; 18.Faan Rautenbach*; 19. Matt Garvey; 20. Richard Thorpe; 21. Adam Thompstone; 22. Adrian Jarvis; 23.Darren Allinson

Head Coach: Toby Booth;  Attack Coach: Mike Catt;  Defence Coach: Justin Bishop

*Denotes International

Catt gets a start for Irish against Bath

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

Mike Catt will make his first start of the season for London Irish at the Recreation Ground tomorrow evening when the Exiles play Bath Rugby in round nine of the Guinness Premiership. The match kicks-off at 5.35pm.

Catt will play at inside centre on a pitch that he knows intimately from his 12 years with the West Country club. The England Rugby World Cup winner is one of four changes to the starting line-up of the London Irish team that played Newcastle Falcons last weekend.

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England captain Alex expands horizons with Canterbury pilgrimage

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

One of England’s brightest back row talents has been working alongside Richie McCaw to develop his game during a three-month spell in New Zealand.

Athletic number eight Alex Gray has returned to Newcastle Falcons after three months with Canterbury and heads for a warm weather training camp in Portugal tomorrow with Mark Mapletoft’s England Under 20 squad.

Gray made his debut in England’s Under 18 side as a 16-year-old before leading them through two unbeaten campaigns that culminated in a thumping 45-13 victory over South Africa in Kimberley in August.

Instead of returning to the North East and straight into full-time rugby with the Falcons, the Newcastle-born teenager opted for a spell in Christchurch, playing for Canterbury’s unbeaten Under 20 side – prompting comparisons with the way current England boss Martin Johnson did so with King Country before launching his own international career.

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