If London Irish reaps success in the RFU Championship this year we may be about to reveal its secret weapon.

Relegated from the elite league of English rugby union last season this year the Reading-based team with strong links to the Emerald Isle is hoping to bounce straight back - and has turned to a Gloucester firm to helps its cause.

London Irish's will see it up against the likes of Gloucestershire's Hartpury College and it has revealed its plans to bring in Gloucester-based Nutrition X to help it do battle.

The experts in sports nutrition from the company will work closely with the club's strength and conditioning team to provide ongoing sports supplement support as well as establishing the nutritional requirements of each player.

Former Gloucester Rugby and London Irish player, James Hudson, now a performance nutritionist at Nutrition X, will also host a series of performance nutrition-focused seminars for players throughout the season.

James Markey, Nutrition X managing director, said: "We'll be working closely with the team there to help each of the players boost their performance through targeted nutritional support, not only through our supplements, but with ongoing expert support from James Hudson through our newly-formed sports nutrition consultancy."

Rob Palmer, London Irish strength and conditioning coach, said: "To be working with a well renowned brand such as Nutrition X is massive for the club and it will be great to work with former player James Hudson, who is now a key figure of their business."

If you think this all gives London Irish something of an advantage over Hartpury we should tell you James Hudson also has input into the Gloucestershire club as well.