Loan Watch, with Academy rundown: Two forwards on duty in National League

Two London Irish Senior Academy players experienced some valuable game time out on loan over the past weekend.

Prop Oran Murphy played out his novel competitive first team game for National League 2 East side Barnes in their home fixture against Dorking.

Murphy registered 25 minutes of pitch time at Barn Elms in what was a tight 26-25 defeat for the south London side, with the 18-year-old having also took to the field in Barnes’ pre-season schedule.

Jack Heald’s side travel to Henley Hawks in the fourth round of National League 2 East action next Saturday (24^th) currently first in the league standings, with Oliver Stirling in fact in action for Hawks’ last weekend.

Stirling, Irish’s first year Senior Academy player, took to the field for Henley Hawks’ second team in the back-row in a defeat against Bishop’s Stortford.

Last Wednesday (14^th) saw London Irish’s ACE side at Bishop Wand school were victorious over Harlequins’ Gordon’s ACE team, winning 38-17 away from home.

Irish’s five try scorers; George Goodridge, Ciaran Meachen, Ciaran Thomas, Martin Betsen and Elijah Green, had all of their tries converted via fly-half Kian Norval who also added a penalty.

London Irish ACE Manager Richard Pryor spoke of the encouraging performance for his side on an afternoon when maximum points were achieved on the road.

“I’d like to congratulate our boys on a great start to our season, there are of work-ons to iron out in the coming weeks and months, but I am pleased with how we played.

“We made a crucial start to the second half with two tries and a penalty, it really epitomised our spirit and work rate that we have here.

“As much as myself and the team are satisfied with the result, we will be working hard to improve some key areas as the season develops and look forward to what this team can bring.”

Current Senior Academy product Chandler Cunningham-South took his talents on the road with the senior squad in Round 2 of the Gallagher Premiership against Northampton Saints, playing out the final 15 minutes at the cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

Nine Senior Academy players are set to feature for Irish in this week’s Premiership Rugby Cup fixture at the nearby Twickenham Stoop against Harlequins.

Tarek Haffar, Mikey Summerfield, Alexander Harmes and Michael Dykes have all been awarded starting berths by Declan Kidney, the former two making their first team debuts, whilst Calum Scott, Afolabi Fasogbon, Ollie Allan, Monty Bradbury and Jack Walsh are set to make appearances as replacements.