AUSTRALIA SECOND ROW Adam Coleman is the latest big name on London Irish’s list of incoming players for their return to the Premiership next season.
On the heels of the Exiles announcing that All Black Waisake Naholo would be among their ranks, Declan Kidney’s side today confirmed that the 6′ 8″ Melbourne Rebels captain will bolster their back.
Coleman, 27, has won 31 Test caps for the Wallabies and he will build on that tally at this year’s World Cup before joining his new employers in England.
“We have a strong set of forwards, but know that we need strength in depth if we want to be competitive,” Kidney said in today’s statement.
“Adam is a quality player and we’re delighted he has chosen to come and join London Irish. We are looking forward to welcoming him to Hazelwood later in the year.”
Irish have not held back on spending since completing their promotion-winning campaign in the Championship with Sean O’Brien, Paddy Jackson, Scotland’s Alan Dell and Australian trio Nick Phipps, Curtis Riona and Sekope Kepu also headed for the Exiles.
Irish will continue to play at the Madejski Stadium, home of Reading FC, next season but in 2020 they will move back to London and share with Brentford FC in a new ground across the Thames from Kew Gardens.
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Tough blow to lose so many important players. Molony and Penny were two of the stars of the 6 Nations while Byrne and Hackshaw were key playmakers at 10 and 12 with Hacksahw being the captain. I’d fancy Allison to come into the backrow instead of Molony without too much drop off in quality as he might have started if he’d been fit for the 6 Nations. Replacing Penny is nigh on impossible but Healy and French/Moore will do a fine job coming in at 10 and 12. The issue will be the lack of depth now we’re down some big players and guys having so many big games in such a short period of time.
Its concerning the amount of serious injuries in a young squad like that already
One “IQ” player is that a good return should there be more
@Exiled Dub: why should there be more?
also Iwan Hughes is a IQ rugby product who is with Ulster now.
I wonder how the other home countries are getting on, say England next week ?? Do we have the worst list ???)
@Martin Quinn: A few injuries and also the unavailability of #10 Marcus Smith because he’s playing for England development XV vs the Barbarians ! A disappointing priority for the rest of the squad, I imagine.
See https://www.englandrugby.com/news/england-men-u20s-squad-update/
@Martin Quinn: No mention of Australian injuries here:
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/05/07/world-u20-championships-junior-wallabies-squad
They beat NZ 24-0 in a final recently !
@Martin Quinn: Italy had to omit 3 injured players who were “more or less important”. See:
https://www.federugby.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=112&Itemid=427
So my guess is that our missing 5, 6, 7, 10 and 12 represent the greatest omissions in our group.
Ah well, cometh the hour, cometh the man …
@Martin Quinn: https://u20rugby.wordpress.com if you’re interested keep an eye on this
@Glenbower:
Thanks for that :: Glen
@Eddie Hekenui:
Thanks for that :: EDDIE