Director of rugby Declan Kidney is delighted to welcome back the London Irish players from international duty after the November series as the Championship Cup reaches the business end of the pool stages.
All seven of the club’s players who headed off at the beginning of November added to their tally of international caps, and there were some notable successes, too.
Manasa Saulo started Fiji’s memorable win over France in Paris last Saturday evening, as well as their other win of the autumn against Uruguay and the loss to Scotland.
Ciaran Hearn played in all three of Canada’s wins that send the north Americans to another World Cup, maintaining the country’s 100 percent record of appearing in every edition of the international showcase.
Bryce Campbell scored two tries in the USA’s win over Romania and played in the Eagles’ win over Samoa and loss to Ireland, helping his nation rise up the world rankings to 12th.
Gordon Reid started Scotland’s narrow defeat to South Africa, while Motu Matu’u, Teofilo Paulo and Ofisa Treviranus all started Samoa’s win over Spain that rounded off their Autumn campaign.
Reid and Treviranus have already returned to action for the Exiles in last Saturday’s win at Bedford, and Kidney says that strength in depth will be important over the next few weeks and months.
“We’ve been pleased with how our players have done over the past few weeks,” he commented. “We’re delighted for Ciaran Hearn that Canada have qualified for the World Cup, and that Manasa Saulo had a good win with Fiji in Paris.
“We always want our players to play at the highest level and to represent their country whenever possible. We’ve got some important matches coming up and having strong competition for places is going to be good for us.”
Tickets are available for London Irish v Hartpury at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday 9 December in the final home game of 2018. Book online at ticketing.londonirish.net
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