NEW signing George Robson believes he has made a ‘great decision’ in joining Exiles for the coming campaign.

The former Harlequins second row joined from French side Oyonnax earlier in the summer, and has been delighted at how he has settled in as Irish look to return to the Aviva Premiership.

He said: “London Irish was a great decision – what’s really great for me at the moment is the young group of lads we’ve got here. We’ve got some cracking young guys keeping me going.

“I think the Championship is a very tough competition with a lot of teams who are very well drilled and some testing places to go and play but it is a challenge we are very much looking forward to.

“We’ve got a game plan that’s very clear for us and we can hopefully hit the ground running.”

Exiles have undergone a major restructure this summer with former head coach Tom Coventry returning to New Zealand and Nick Kennedy taking over as director of rugby, but Robson has been impressed with what he has seen under the new regime.

He commented: “What’s good from a playing point of view is that everything seems to have been thought out, we’re not doing anything that’s mindless, all the fitness work we’ve been doing is completely game related so as a player it’s easy to get your head around that and focus on what you’ve got to do.”

  • FIVE of London Irish’s brightest young talents have been named in John Fletcher’s England Under 18 squad for the three-match tour of South Africa.

Wellington College products Rory Brand and Ben Loader (pictured), Tom Parton and Matt Williams are joined by Busce Academy graduate Joe Cokanasiga as they get ready to take on France U18 tomorrow, South Africa Schools A next Tuesday and South Africa Schools, on Saturday, August 20.

RFU National Academy Development Manager John Fletcher revealed: “The tour gives us an opportunity to play in the southern hemisphere in a different environment and against a very tough opposition.

“We will stick to our principles in defence and attack and we expect the players to adapt on the field. The plan is to give the players a full tour experience, which is crucial to their development.”

  •  LONDON Irish have bolstered their squad ahead of the Greene King IPA Championship by signing hookers Jason Harris-Wright and Todd Gleave.

The former joins the club after three seasons with Connacht, and was previously a member of the Leinster squad that won the Heineken Cup in 2010.

Harris-Wright has also represented Ireland at Under 19 and 20 age levels.

Former Bath Academy product Gleave (21) arrives from Rosslyn Park having previously played for East Grinstead, where Justin Bishop was his coach, as well as London Welsh.

Both players are likely to be in action sooner rather than later due to injuries picked up in training by fellow hookers Matt Kouris and Dave Porecki.