A consortium led by former Formula 1 team boss Eddie Jordan has rescued the Irish rugby club London Irish from financial difficulties. In 2023, ‘The Exiles’ were expelled from the Premiership by the English rugby union due to unpaid wages.
London Irish, with a debt of approximately thirty million pounds, was placed under administration by owner Mick Crossan shortly after being expelled from Ireland’s top rugby competition. The deadline for settling the arrears or completing a takeover was not met, resulting in the rugby club currently being ineligible to participate in any competition.
Eddie Jordan, founder and former owner of the Jordan Grand Prix F1 team, stepped in. As a businessman, he established the consortium Jordan Associates the following year to take over the club.
Return to the Top
The consortium is a partnership with Strangford Ellis Ltd, an investment vehicle managed by Jordan Associates. This vehicle has purchased the key assets of London Irish, such as the intellectual property, the brand, and the club’s rights. However, the Hazelwood training base is not included in the deal.
Jordan Associates hopes to exploit the commercial potential of the rugby club and achieve long-term success with the takeover. “The primary goal of the new owner is to bring London Irish back to the top of international professional club rugby, with the aim of a swift return to the top competition,” reads a statement from Strangford Ellis.”The Jordan Associates team will now focus its efforts on negotiating a full and sustainable return for London Irish to competitive rugby, hand in hand with the London Irish fan base,” the statement continues.
Not Just Financial Support
The roots of the club date back to the nineteenth century. During that time, London Irish won the second-tier championship twice. The rugby club played on the grounds of the Reading football club for twenty years before moving to Brentford’s Gtech Stadium in West London in 2020. Although the new owners have not named a new stadium, they did confirm that the club’s home base will remain in West London.
Kyle, Eddie’s youngest son, is a senior partner in the consortium and promises that the investor will bring more than just financial support. “Also a deep passion for rugby and a commitment to the community,” he says.
