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London Irish sign hooker Tadgh McElroy on a season-long loan
By Liam Heagney
London Irish have completed the loan signing of former Irish U20s international Tadgh McElroy for the rest of the season. McElroy has joined from Ealing Trailfinders, after previous spells with Premiership duo Bristol Bears and Saracens, amongst others.
Director of rugby Declan Kidney said: “After Reece Marshall’s unfortunate injury last weekend, which will rule him out for a couple of weeks, we are pleased to welcome Tadgh for the rest of the season, to improve competition at hooker.”
Irish signed Marshall on December 7 on a short-term loan deal from Northampton to provide injury cover but the 27-year-old was hurt in the Challenge Cup win over Pau on his debut.
McElroy has had a curious 2021 in England. It was March when he pitched up on trial at Bristol and after that stint came to nought by the summer, he was snapped up by Ealing and he has since played two Championship matches and scored three tries for the Trailfinders in his appearances from the bench. Now Irish has snapped up McElroy.
The hooker first came to England in 2017 when he joined the Saracens academy. He made the move back to Ireland two years later and his form for club side Clontarf had been promising until the All-Ireland League shut down in March 2020.
That left the 24-year-old in limbo until Pat Lam decided to take a look at what the front-rower might have to offer. "He he has done really well,” said Lam to RugbyPass last June before the decision was taken for McElroy to try his luck elsewhere. “The Tadgh McElroy that arrived, that was training by himself up near Dundalk, it was really difficult (for him) to be able to come here and grow.
"But physically and as a person, he has really enjoyed it and come through. I’m really pleased with the progress that he has made. There is a lot more progress for him to make obviously, but he has come in and been a really good person in the group."
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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