London Irish vs Harlequins: New home, same old story for Exiles’ Ollie Hoskins

London Irish are the home side tonight, where the face Harlequins at The Stoop
Getty Images for Harlequins
Will Macpherson9 September 2020

When Saracens are relegated at the end of the season, the only Premiership derby in London will be between Harlequins and London Irish.

Those teams meet tonight in strange circumstances at The Stoop, with Irish technically the home team but stationed in the away dressing room.

It is odd enough that the match is taking place on a Wednesday night, but these are the times we live in.

Irish are using The Stoop as their temporary home on the way to Brentford Community Stadium from Reading, where they played for two decades. And this game always stood out on the fixture list.

As part of the deal struck between the clubs, Quins get to use the home dressing room but, for social-distancing reasons, the players have been preparing for matches in the ground’s bars.

“We’ve tried to make The Stoop feel like our home ground as much as possible,” said Irish prop Ollie Hoskins.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

“The changing rooms are all decked out with Irish stuff. It’s an exciting time for the club moving to Brentford.”

Paul Gustard, Quins’ head of rugby, said: “It’s strange, but it’s only what you see it to be. We are going to The Stoop and it’s normal preparation.

“It’s the same arrival time, the same four sticks, there might be some different advertising in the stands, but I’ll still be there shouting.”

Quins are desperate for a win to widen the eight-point gap between the teams, who are placed eighth and ninth. Irish, meanwhile, are smelling blood.

“Since I’ve been here, whenever we get the opportunity to play Quins it’s always spoken about how big the game is,” said Hoskins.

“It’s an unwritten rule if you play for Irish you have to have a bit of disdain for Quins and I’m sure it’s vice versa.”

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