Our Harlequins Gallagher Premiership preview assesses the state of play at The Stoop as the well-supported and entertaining Quins look to mount another serious title challenge.
discussion points
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Quins have sold out season tickets for three consecutive years, attracting legions of fans with their gutsy rugby. Their achievements in Europe in 2023-24, including thrilling wins at Racing and Bordeaux, have made a second successive sixth-place finish in the league harder to swallow. There is a sense of underachievement in the air at Stoop.
Two veteran Welsh Lions in Leigh Halfpenny and Wyn Jones and Argentine number seven star Rodrigo Isgró are in the mix, but tighthead Titi Lamositele is the most notable signing tasked with replacing club legend Will Collier. Andre Esterhuizen, an incredibly assertive ball carrier in midfield, will also be greatly missed.
Quins leaked the most league tries outside of the bottom two last season, so the arrival of Jason Gilmore as defensive coach is crucial. He has held head coaching roles with Australia’s U20 and A teams, along with defensive roles with the Waratahs and Reds. But some things never change: Danny Care is entering his 19th season at the club.
37-year-old scrumhalf Danny Care is an ever-present at Quins (Getty Images).
key players
Can one person be too important? Sometimes it feels like Quins are waiting for Marcus Smith to unleash his match-winning magic. Certainly without him they would have been very different. “Not again!” Care dispersed after one of Smith’s many awards of the match.
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One to watch
34-year-old Joe Marler is passing the loose baton to 22-year-old Fin Baxter at club and Test level. So far he has passed all the challenges. “Don’t let the baby face fool you, there’s a proper Test player behind that exterior,” Marler said after his Baxter Test debut in New Zealand.
coach’s box
In addition to Gilmore, there is a new medical director, Brian O’Leary, who has been head of performance at London Irish for nine years. Danny Wilson (head), Nick Evans (attack) and Adam Jones (scrum and transition) are the key players.
prediction
If they can step up defensively without losing their ‘bat swinging’ brio they will be a major contender.
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