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Cracknell becomes fifth player to recently sign for London Irish
By Liam Heagney
The recent recruitment drive by London Irish continued on Tuesday with 27-year-old back-rower Olly Cracknell joining from Ospreys, the Welsh region he signed for in 2014. It was October 6 when the Premiership club announced the double signing of winger Cillian Redmond and tighthead Ciaran Parker.
They then added Argentine pair, back-rower Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso and winger Lucio Cinti Luna, in recent weeks and now Cracknell becomes the latest player snapped up by the English top-flight club.
After making an Ospreys debut in 2015, Cracknell went on to make over 100 appearances for the Welsh outfit. He has previously represented Wales at U20s and was called up to the Welsh squad for the 2017 Six Nations.
Cracknell said: “I’m really pleased to be joining London Irish. It’s a great opportunity for me at a key period in my career. I have heard good things about the squad here and I’m looking forward to playing my part over the coming weeks and months.”
Irish boss Declan Kidney added: “We are pleased Olly has agreed to join us. He is a strong player who will add to the current options we have in the back row. We are looking forward to him joining the group and being part of our squad.”
Cracknell becomes the second back-rower to join the Irish since they confirmed on August 13 that the long-serving Blair Cowan had his surprise request to end his contract early granted so that he could pursue a new challenge in Japan.
"When Blair wasn’t going to be available through the season we went looking for the back rows that were available and it is a difficult time to recruit," said Kidney in recent weeks when explaining the signing of Argentine back-rower Gonzalez Samso at a time when they also coincidentally lost Ben Donnell to injury. "That was always an opening that was created by Blair’s departure."
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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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