Premiership
London Irish 2022/23 home kit revealed!
London Irish is proud to reveal the Club’s 2022/23 home playing kit, manufactured by BLK.
The jersey features the iconic green colour tones – engraved in London Irish culture and championing the Hiberno-English heritage of the Club.
The fresh design for the 22/23 season incorporates a subtle hooped styling with Gaelic symbology on a traditional green background, completed with red and white trim on the collar to fully incorporate elements of the Club crest into the kit.
For added contrast this year has introduced ‘cool grey’ under-arm and side panels.
Inspired by the grassroots of the Club, the representative players in the kit launch constitute the wide-ranging nature of the banner the Club proudly operates on – one, inclusive Exile Nation.
Home-grown talent Henry Arundell has risen through the ranks of the Academy to first-team Club and international rugby over the last year, Ben White too earning acclaim for his native Scotland with new signings Danilo Fischetti and So’otala Fa’aso’o two of many Exiles hailing from overseas.
With comfort prioritised for maximum results on the playing field, the kit is made from a four-way stretch, Exotek/Lycra material with TriCool technology.
Following the theme of recent seasons, the Home shorts are in contrast to the shirt with a ‘cool grey’ base colour with green side panels which are adorned with ‘Exile Nation’ flag motifs, the socks also marrying greens with a cool grey turnover.
With the Club bidding farewell to the iconic ‘Back in Town’ design that has seen Irish through their first two seasons in Brentford, new names are welcomed on board to the Irish family.
Critical Metals plc. become the Exiles’ front-of-shirt sponsor for the upcoming campaign after recently joining the Club’s extensive sponsorship portfolio.
The new Home kit will get its first run-out by the first team squad in the upcoming pre-season fixture away to Munster Rugby this Friday (2nd September).
London Irish Head Coach Les Kiss shared his delight in the launching of the new kit range.
“The team and I at London Irish are delighted with how the kit has turned out, and it’s a pleasure to be working with BLK for another year,” Kiss stated.
“The design embraces our culture and passion here as Exiles, I can’t wait to see the lads run out in the new kit this week.”
In addition to the standard shirt, various enhanced alternatives are also available from personalisation, player specific options and squad signed versions with sizes available from two-years-old to 7XL.
Supporters can now pre-order their own replica kit here, with delivery to the Club expected by mid-September.
Adult Shirts (2XS -7XL) – £59.99
Adult Shorts (2XS – 5XL) – £29.99
Adult Socks – £14.99
Kids Shirts (2yr-14yr) – £39.99
Kids Shorts (4yr-14yr) – £24.99
Kids Socks – £12.99
Content & Images from – London Irish Rugby
Sale Sharks have agreed a deal to sign Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu from French Top14 side Toulon.
The explosive centre, who starred for his country during the recent World Cup, has signed a one-year contract with an option for a further year.
He will join up with Alex Sanderson’s Sharks squad ahead of the start of the 2024/25 Gallagher Premiership season.
Waisea, 33, said: “I’ve watched the Premiership for a long time and it’s always been in the back of my mind that I would love to play there one day and experience rugby in England.
“Now that opportunity has arrived and I’m really, really happy and grateful. I’m so excited to get over there and join the boys and see how I can contribute to the team.
“I have spoken to Telusa Veainu and he only has positive things to say about the club and about Manchester.
“I’m looking forward to playing with some of the guys I’ve played against, like Tom Curry and George Ford. But I also know there are a lot of really talented young players in the Sale Sharks squad and I’m excited to share my experience and help them develop as much as I can.
“I told Alex that it’s what I’ve been doing for the last few years of my career and it’s something I’m passionate about.”
Nayacalevu, who stands at 6’4” and weighs in at 16st 7lb, spent ten years at Top14 side Stade Français before making the switch to Toulon in 2022.
He has won 34 caps for Fiji, slotting in at both centre and on the wing, and captained his country at last year’s World Cup, where the Pacific Islanders made the quarter-finals, losing 30-24 to England in Marseille.
He also famously scored for Fiji in their memorable pre-World Cup win against England at Twickenham.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Phil Brantingham to join Saracens
Prop-forward Phil Brantingham will leave Newcastle Falcons in the summer to join Saracens.
The 22-year-old has played 25 games for his home town club, and leaves with the thanks and best wishes of everyone at the Falcons.
Chairman of rugby Matt Thompson said: “Phil has done well for us and we made him a good offer to stay here.
“We respect his decision and wish him all the best for his move in the summer, but between now and then he will be fully committed to finishing the season strongly for Newcastle Falcons.”
Source – Newcastle Falcons Rugby
Sale Sharks can confirm that forward Cobus Wiese will leave the club at the end of the season to return to South Africa.
The 26-year-old lock has played almost 80 games for the club and scored five tries since joining from the DHL Stormers ahead of the 2020/21 season.
He played a key role last year as Sale reached the Premiership final, and this season he has featured a further 13 times for Alex Sanderson’s side.
Alex said: “Cobus will be missed by all of us on so many levels. He’s the most polite and courteous of people off the field, but the most wildly excitable man on the field, and on a night out.
“To say Cobus wears his heart on his sleeve is to do him a disservice with regards to his emotional commitment for which his body has paid the price on occasion.
“He leads by example and has earnt the respect and adoration of the group both on a professional and a personal level. We wish him every success and happiness with his move back home.”
Everyone at Sale Sharks would like to thank Cobus for his contribution to the club and the team during his time here and we wish him all the very best for the future.
Images & Content from Sale Sharks Rugby
Munster Rugby Announce Contract Deals For Murray, Daly & Gleeson
Squad Update | Munster Prepare For Cardiff At Thomond
