Irish should be smiling next season

London IRISH will return to the Premiership next season with their identity firmly re-established.

If that is the consequence of a season down in the Championship, it will be regarded in hindsight as a productive episode. Having tried to tap into Kiwi know-how with the short-lived regime of Tom Coventry, the Exiles have prospered by going back to their roots. nick Kennedy is a bright young director of rugby with the nous that comes from a successful stint at Toulon. Brendan Venter has been an asset as a technical director, while declan danaher, George Skivington and Paul Hodgson are other former Irish players now building their coaching pedigree at the club. There is a heart and soul to the operation again — and outstanding training facilities in Sunbury — and if a few more high-class players can be recruited, they should be competitive next season.