London Irish return targeted for next season under new owner Steve Daniels

London Irish, the club that went out of business in 2023, have a new owner and chairman in Steve Daniels and hope to be playing professional rugby again as early as next season, BBC Sport reported.

The deal went through Daniels' company, Gamechanger Investments, which has bought the London Irish name, brand and related intellectual property from Kyle Jordan and Daniel McKeown. Jordan, the son of the late former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan, and McKeown had been trying to bring the club back since its collapse.

Daniels, 47, co-founded the energy business PE Solutions with two partners. "London Irish is a huge name in rugby and means a great deal to a lot of people," he said.

From the Premiership to a fresh start

The club's fall came in 2023, when financial difficulties pushed it into administration and ended its time in the Premiership.

That is a different route from one the club tried before. London Irish had looked at joining the United Rugby Championship, the competition that includes the South African franchises, but the idea met resistance within the game.

Balls said a serious amount of money is behind the project, but added that the club will not rely on a wealthy backer to fund it indefinitely.

Still looking for a home

The new owners also have to find somewhere to play. The club has no home ground. It played at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium from 2020 to 2023, and at Reading's Select Car Leasing Stadium before that.

For the short term the owners are looking at existing stadiums, and they may build a new ground. One option is Hazelwood, the club's former 53-acre training base in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey. The club does not own the site, and the owners are negotiating over its future.

The men's side is not the only team in the plans. The club also intends to bring back its women's team, with the aim of reaching Premiership Women's Rugby.

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