London Irish eyeing return to English rugby after securing new ownership

London Irish eyeing return to English rugby after securing new ownership

London Irish are eyeing up a return to English rugby after securing new ownership under Gamechanger Investments, with Steve Daniels taking the role of chairman. The purchase was made by Kyle Jordan, son of the late former Formula One team boss Eddie Jordan, and Daniel McKeown, both of whom had been working to resurrect the club following its collapse in 2023. Daniels has shared his intention to restore the Exiles to the professional game. He said: "London Irish is a huge name in rugby and means a great deal to a lot of people. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say "We want to get the club back where it belongs - on the pitch and competing again." The club's leadership is targeting a spot in the Championship, English rugby's second tier, at the first available opportunity. "If next season were an opportunity and they would allow us to do so, we would like to go then. If it's not, then we'll wait another year," chief executive Jamie Balls told BBC Sport. Before settling on the Championship route, the club had explored the possibility of entering the United Rugby Championship, which spans five nations plus South Africa. LATEST SPORTS NEWS Michael Carrick addresses Bruno Fernandes captaincy as Man Utd prepare for Bournemouth clash Antonio Conte sets record straight on Man Utd links as statement released Luke Littler Netflix show slammed for having former World Championship star competing as 'amateur' Those plans, however, encountered opposition from within the sport. Balls suggested the second tier of English rugby offers a more practical foundation to rebuild from. Daniels said: "We are determined to get the foundations right and build a club that is competitive, sustainable and gives supporters something to believe in. "We want London Irish firmly back on the rugby map." Finding a permanent home remains one of the most pressing challenges facing the new regime. Between 2020 and 2023, the Exiles played at Brentford's Gtech Community Stadium, having p