London Irish takeover opens path to possible 2027 rugby return

London Irish are targeting a return to professional rugby as early as next season after a takeover by Steve Daniels’ Gamechanger Investments, BBC Sport reported. The new owner and chairman has committed to rebuilding the club, which entered administration in June 2023, but a date for its comeback has not been secured.

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The acquisition covers London Irish’s name, brand and associated intellectual property. Those assets were purchased from Kyle Jordan, the son of the late former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan, and Daniel McKeown. Both had been involved in efforts to revive the club following its collapse. The transaction gives the revival project new ownership, while the practical arrangements for resuming competitive rugby remain to be settled.

Chief executive Jamie Balls told BBC Sport that the owners would welcome admission to the Championship, English rugby’s second tier, at the first available opportunity. He said they would be ready to pursue entry next season if permitted, but could wait another year if necessary. London Irish had previously investigated joining the United Rugby Championship, only to encounter resistance. Balls presented the Championship as a more realistic platform from which to rebuild.

Finding a home is another unresolved task. London Irish played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium from 2020 to 2023, having previously staged home matches in Reading. The new ownership group is examining existing stadiums as short-term options and considering the possibility of developing a new ground. Balls did not disclose which stadium sites were under consideration, leaving the location of any return unconfirmed.

Hazelwood, the club’s former training base in Sunbury-on-Thames, is also part of the discussions. The 53-acre property was developed for both professional and amateur rugby. Balls said the group wanted to regain access to the site and was negotiating over its future, while stressing that London Irish do not currently own it. Its potential role in the rebuilding effort therefore remains subject to those negotiations.

Daniels’ plans extend to restoring the women’s team, with an ambition to reach Premiership Women’s Rugby. Financial sustainability is central to the wider project: Balls said the new owner expected spending proposals to demonstrate how the club could support itself, rather than depend indefinitely on a wealthy backer. Securing league entry, settling the venue question and establishing that financial basis remain the immediate priorities.