“It’s as Colts that players realise they have a passion for the game and a bond with their team-mates, by turning up for training on a cold, wet evening, and not just because their folks forced them to!” as one seasoned observer neatly puts it. Well the London Irish Colts who’ve come through this most challenging of seasons can truly hold their heads high. They’re a credit and an inspiration to the entire club.

It's been a difficult journey, there’s no getting away from that. For various reasons numbers had dropped – an all-too-familiar story amongst clubs everywhere, especially at this stage, when studies, school sports and other distractions are intensifying. Those that stayed and soldiered on have shown heartening character in testing circumstances: weeks when they’ve barely scraped together 15, players cheerfully mucking in, out of position or struggling for fitness, and when they’ve been on the wrong side of a few scorelines. In short, doing whatever it takes to fulfil fixtures and represent their club.

Any side can show camaraderie sailing through a winning season. It’s when loss follows loss that we see true team spirit come through. Having battled grittily in defeat week after week, it was March before they finally secured a well-deserved win (at home against Haslemere). It was plain to see how much it meant to this squad and its supporters. Their popular coach Andre Cabrera has instilled steely belief to go with the attacking flair that comes with his sevens pedigree.

One of the Colts stalwarts is flanker Fraser Brewerton. Alongside childhood buddy Tommy Freeman he has progressed, in a close-knit bunch of 8 mates, from Minis all the way up through the age groups at Irish. These boys evidently stick together through thick and thin. The challenge of doing pre-season sessions with the Wild Geese has only strengthened their resolve to go further wearing the famous green. Most encouraging is that, having grown up as part of a vibrant, loyal community, they see their future at the heart of it.

His mum Jen enthusiastically celebrates the spirit they have shown, and the supportive environment of the Irish family: “You can see just how proud these lads are of the badge, proud to be part of our unique club. They play with heart and soul. To turn up week in week out takes an enormous amount of motivation, resilience and commitment. And every one of these boys has those qualities in bucket loads”.

London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club would like to thank Paul Murphy, Gerry Gallagher and Harry Chesterman (London Irish) who have managed the LIARFC page in the match day programme for season 22/23.

Article printed in London Irish v Northampton match day programme - 25th March 2023