On 12 December, London Irish hosted a private lunch in partnership with The Business End, a leadership and performance platform that brings together senior leaders from sport, business and the public sector to explore how high-performance principles translate beyond the field.
What stood out most on the day wasn’t titles or formalities - it was how naturally people engaged. When there is a genuine shared interest and a clear purpose, conversations form quickly, attention stays high, and people settle into meaningful discussion rather than simply circulating.
Working with The Business End, the lunch was deliberately designed to create the right conditions for connection. This included a considered seating plan (as far as possible while respecting existing relationships), thoughtful curation with partners to ensure the right mix of people in the room, and encouragement for guests to connect both before and after the event. The focus wasn’t on numbers - it was on relevance and quality of conversation.
Sponsors played an important role in supporting the lunch. Their involvement helped bring together people who care about London Irish and its future, while respecting the integrity of the environment. Rather than promotion or pitching, the emphasis was on creating a space where trust, shared values and genuine relationships could develop.
For many guests, the conversations continued beyond the room. Practical follow-up notes were shared to help people reconnect with those they were most aligned with, allowing discussions to move forward naturally. Contributions on the day from Tony Underwood, alongside Jamie Salmon and Steve Daniels, added real depth to the afternoon — thoughtful, engaging and highly relevant. Tony will also be following up with a workshop for attendees to continue the conversations sparked at the lunch.
Looking back at the event photos, the same picture emerged: high engagement, phones largely out of sight, people leaning in and staying present. Business was done — including a £1.4m pledge in support of community rugby — but just as importantly, people clearly enjoyed themselves as well as raising some funds for LIARFC and The London Irish Foundation. Leaders connect differently: trust and understanding come first, with outcomes following naturally afterwards.
This was not a traditional networking event. It was an environment designed to support London Irish, bring together the professional club, the Foundation and the amateur game, and show how sport can connect communities, partners and businesses in a more meaningful way.
With more events planned in 2026, London Irish looks forward to continuing to work with partners such as The Business End to strengthen these connections, support the club and its community, and explore better ways for organisations, clubs and partners to engage with one another.
A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed so openly - the quality of the day was shaped by the people in the room.
