Paddy raring to return to action in 2022

Paddy Jackson is relishing a return to action in 2022, after a stop-start couple of weeks for London Irish.

The Exiles return to action with a home clash against Edinburgh in the European Challenge Cup on Saturday - for what will be Declan Kidney’s sides’ first outing at the Brentford Community Stadium in six weeks.

Jackson - who has been in outstanding form in the number 10 shirt this season - is keen to build on an encouraging couple of months for the Exiles, when they return to the BCS this weekend.

“We feel we’re progressing and improving all the time,” said Jackson.

“I think we’ve learned a lot from last year. We were in good shape at a similar time last year and things dipped off, but we’ve got a lot more depth in our squad this year.

“We've got some young guys that are really stepping up. Guys that can step into any position and make a big difference. So I'm really looking forward to the business end of the season and pushing towards something special.”

He added: “I think we're all working towards the same goal.

“Matt (Rogerson) always talks about it in the huddle, but we’ve a responsibility to represent this Club day after day, week after week.

“We’ve got a really strong bond as a group and I’m confident it will stand us in good stead for what’s to come this year.”

Kidney and this team are very much of the mindset of taking each game as it comes - and that won’t change as the season nears its business end, as Jackson explained.

“We’ll continue to do what we do, approach each game as it comes,” he said.

“I think that's where we've got really good success in the last couple of months or so, by just focusing on the next match. Training well, preparing right and applying ourselves well on matchdays.”

Jackson and his team-mates are excited about returning to the BCS this weekend - a stadium they all feel at home at.

“It’s an amazing ground, it really is – and having the fans back on a regular basis really adds an extra dimension,” he said.

“As players, you can really feel the support of the crowd and it’s going from strength to strength every week. It’s a great stadium to play in and we feel we’re building something here.”