Our long established "rite of passage" under 12 Dublin tour was due to fly out from London Heathrow this morning. Then disaster struck and the airport had to close for the day.

Our intrepid band of tourists were not to be defeated. In true London Irish spirit led by the redoubtable Paul Charles and ably abetted by Neil Sapsed, Kevin Kelly and a host of others, a fallback plan was rapidly put into place. No easy feat at 4am today.

It is no small undertaking organising almost 120 boys and girls plus parents to get to Dublin today. Come hell or high water our under 12s were determined to fulfil their fixture against Clontarf tomorrow and to play in the De La Salle Palmerston tournament on Sunday. At London Irish amateurs we have a 125 year heritage of turning up and very little stops us.

As the tour party wend their way through this sceptred isle towards Holyhead and the ferry I'm sure you will join me in wishing them a safe journey and an enjoyable tour.

Best
Chris