London Irish is a proud part of England's Irish community; the club was formed to provide hospitality and sporting entertainment for the émigré population, in a move inspired by the existing London Scottish and London Welsh teams. The club's ethos is reflected in its nickname, the Exiles, and the side continues to wear its green colours proudly.
On the pitch, the club is a regular in the Premiership, and has won an assortment of regional and national cups across its history. Irish won the Challenge Cup in 2006, and finished as Premiership runners-up in 2009.
In June 2023, as a result of ongoing financial troubles, London Irish was suspended from all tournaments - including the Gallagher Premiership - with immediate effect.