Jamie Hagan has revealed that although he had a lot of offers on the table for the new season, he opted to join the Aviva Premiership Rugby Football Union club the London Irish this season because he was made to feel wanted at the club by the coaching duo of Glenn Delaney and Brian Smith.
The 26 year old Ireland player had a stellar season last time around, earning his first cap with the national team as well as leading his club Leinster to the RaboDirect Pro 12 title as well as success in the Amlin Challenge Cup in Europe and the tight head prop is looking forward to helping The Exiles the same kind of success this time around.
The player has put pen to paper on a three year deal with the English club and he is looking forward to the challenge in front of him. He mentioned that the club has a huge history and tradition and has been home to some of the classiest players such as Victor Costello, Mike Gibson and Bob Casey and mentioned that with the Irish connection, it was a massive influence on him.
He stated that the Aviva Premiership is a huge league to play in and doing it with the London Irish is just a massive achievement for him. He mentioned that when he first got the call and then met the club’s Director of Rugby Smith as well as forwards coach Delaney, he was immensely impressed.
He mentioned that the London Irish coaching duo was very keen to bring him into the squad and he hopes he can repay the faith showed in him by the coaching duo. Hagan added that he hopes to be fit for the start of the season and do his bit to aid the club’s ambitions.