The heart of London Irish, Bob Casey has become a club legend during his 10 years at the club, racking up 232 appearances in the process.

That legendary status was exemplified when he became only the sixth player in the club's history to reach 200 appearances during the 2010 St Patrick's Party match in front of a packed house at Madejski Stadium.

Despite the 2009/10 season's disappointing finale, Casey remained a consistent and formidable performer throughout the campaign making 27 appearances and, amongst other victories, leading the club to a memorable Heineken Cup win away to his former club Leinster.

Casey was educated at the famous rugby school of Blackrock College in Dublin before joining Leinster and subsequently moving across the Irish Sea to make his home in Sunbury.

Since then he has captained the Exiles to a Heineken Cup semi-final with Toulouse in 2008 and a Guinness Premiership Final in 2009. His undeniable form earned him a recall to the Ireland squad nine years after his last international cap.

Born in Maynooth, County Kildare, Big Bob Casey, as he is affectionately known by Exiles' supporters, has enviable leadership qualities; he is an exceptional lineout operator and a workaholic in the loose.

He made his senior debut for Ireland against Australia in 1999 but his international career stalled after gaining a fifth cap against Canada in June 2000, before his try scoring recall to the international fold in Ireland's 27-10 win over USA.

Casey was the club's Players' Player of the Season in 2003/04 and was the London Irish Supporters Club Player of the Season 2004-05. He is a patron for the Irish Charity GOAL for which he visited Kolkata over the summer.