By Billy Hamilton
December 3 2003

The “Craic on Tour 2002-03” commences its European adventure this weekend. Once again London Irish is putting on a match to entertain the troops. Our campaign commences, and hopefully does not come to a grinding halt, in Mauntaban in south Western France.

Parker Pen Challenge Cup

Montauban v London Irish
Saturday 6th December 1930 hrs
Stade de Sapiac
Referee; I.Ramage (Scot)

London Irish v Montauban
Sunday 14th December 1500 hrs
Madjeski Stadium
Referee: G.de Santis (Italy)

This is the first time we have played this team who were unseeded in the Parker Pen draw and are having another poor season. Last year they came bottom of the French Championship Pool 2 with 4 wins and two draws out of fourteen games. This year they are in Pool 2 of the championship and have continued their poor record with four defeats in the four games played. They have lost to Perpignon, Biarritz, Toulouse and, last Saturday, by 30-16 at Beziers. Their official website claims that their performances at home have been better than those away.

In spite of their poor league record last year they had a good run in the Parker Pen Cup. In the First they played Ebbw Vale with both sides winning their home games. Montauban went through 45-36 on aggregate. In the next round they beat the Borders in both encounters and went through 31-22 on aggregate. In the quarter final they beat Bath 27-24 at home but lost 24-18 away and only missed qualifying by the 3 points which separated them. Montauban are currently ranked 35th in Europe as against our 5th place.

Their squad features six internationals 33-year-old full back Pierre Bondouy has represented France, flanker Faycel Boukanoucha, Morocco; and winger Ilia Derenalagi, Fiji. There is also the Russian trio of Viatcheslav Gratchev (No.8), Konstantin Ratchkov (scrum jhalf) and the captain Sergei Sergueev (lock).

In their four championship games this season they have scored 5 tries through scrum half Cedric Garcia (3), lock Sergei Sergueev and centre Beniot Albert. All the rest of theirb points have come from the boot of Albert and the outside half Sebastien Fauque who would appear top share the kicking duties.

In a recent interview Russian international lock and club captain Sergei Sergueev is wary of Montauban's in-form visitors

"London Irish are going really well at the moment, high in the Zurich Premiership, whereas we haven't had a great start to the season," he said. "We really need to put some good performances together and try to get a win on home ground for our own confidence.

"This will be a good test for us - we need to kick-start our season and what better challenge than against one of the best teams in Europe?

"At the moment our priority has to be to get our domestic season back on track but we will do our very best in these matches.

"Last year we did well to beat The Borders in Scotland then we narrowly lost to Bath in the quarter-finals. It's always great to play foreign teams and our crowd always gives a good welcome. We have nothing to lose."

The game will be played at the Stade de Sapiac which has a capacity of 9,200. It is laid out in typical French fashion with stands at both sides. The two ends are taken up with the banking of the cycle track which surrounds the pitch. On Saturday it will be a sea of green as the hosts play in green, black and white and are known as “Les Verts et Noirs”.

The more vociferous section of their strong support has its own drum corps and flag wavers and is known as “Les Ultras”. They have their own war cry “En Vert et Contre Tous” (In green and against all).

Good luck to the team and you lucky supporters enjoy yourselves.