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England cast-off Robshaw gets Harlequins vote of confidence
Harlequins have announced that club stalwart Chris Robshaw will continue as Club Captain for the upcoming season.
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Robshaw, 33, made his first team debut in 2005 having developed through the Harlequins Academy and has gone on to make over 250 appearances for Quins.
He is a two-time Premiership Player of the Year winner and scored in Harlequins’ famous Premiership Final victory over Leicester Tigers in 2012.
The former England captain has previously enjoyed spells as Harlequins’ captain, leading the Club through its most successful period in the professional era from 2010-2014 and for the 2018/2019 season, shared the honour with now-retired Australian rugby icon James Horwill.
The decision was made by senior coaching staff to appoint Robshaw as Club Captain for the next season, taking into consideration not only his loyalty to the Club, leadership and rugby skills but also his status amongst the Club’s players, fans and staff.
Following the announcement, Harlequins Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: “He was a unanimous choice among the support staff and continues to be a very popular choice amongst the players. He did an excellent job last year and helped drive standards across the club that matched his own personal ambition and tenacity.
“When appointing a captain, I wanted someone who embraced the buzz, who could adapt and challenge and whom his teammates would follow and take inspiration from. There is no doubt that, with 66 England caps and 275 Harlequins appearances, in Chris we have that man. He continues to inspire everyone at the Club with his dedication, his endeavour, his talent and his humility. He is one of the most competitive people I have come across, never mind coached, and I believe he will help us build on some promising foundations last year with a squad that is excited to progress and willing to work exceptionally hard.
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“Chris epitomises all the values of a human being and rugby player that you would wish to see. It is important that he has support from our synergy group to help him, and help us, take the team where we aspire to go. We must continue to develop our leadership density and help Chris continue to set new standards for himself and help him improve as a player, because he is always wanting more.
“Pre-season has been superseding expectations to date and the energy and electricity around our training ground is palpable. The confirmation of Robbo continuing his role as Captain will give us another boost as we look to move on up this week.”
Looking ahead to taking on the role of sole captaincy for the season, Robshaw added: “It’s such an honour to be made captain of this prestigious Club for the season. I enjoyed the role previously and working with James Horwill last season was a brilliant experience.
“We have a great group of lads here at Quins who are determined to improve on last season’s finish, so I can’t wait to lead them on and off the pitch.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments