Gabriel Ibitoye's Harlequins future confirmed
Harlequins have today announced that Academy members Gabriel Ibitoye, Dino Lamb, Niall Saunders and Calum Waters have all extended their time at the Club.
Confirming their new contracts, Harlequins Director of Rugby, John Kingston said: “I am delighted that we have secured contract renewals with four of our highly talented young players, in the shape of Calum, Gabs, Dino and Niall.
“They all have very bright futures ahead of them given the talent and determined attitude they possess.
“Harlequins has a wonderful record of bringing through players from the Academy and it is a reputation we are strongly driving to continue.”
Joining the full time Harlequins Academy for the 2016/17 season, Gabriel Ibitoye’s first Harlequins appearances came in November 2017. Ibitoye opened his try-scoring account for Harlequins with a stunning try against Bath Rugby in the Aviva Premiership, racing in from inside his own 22. On the international stage, Ibitoye has represented England at U18 and U20 level; winning the 2017 U20 Six Nations and finishing as England’s top try scorer at the U20 World Rugby Championship of the same year.
Confirming his contract extension, Ibitoye said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to re-sign at this great club. We have an exciting group of boys who I believe can do something special over the next few years.
“It excites me that I’ll be able to work closely with the coaching staff and players to help improve my skills and take me to the next level as a young player.”
Back rower Dino Lamb has enjoyed a breakout season in the quartered shirt this term after joining the full time Academy for the 2016/17 season. The former Cranleigh School student made his debut for Harlequins away to Northampton Saints in the Aviva Premiership in September 2017 and scored his first try for the Club against Worcester Warriors in the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
A diverse forward – who can also cover the second row – Lamb also represented England in the U20s World Rugby Championship in the summer of 2017. On his new deal, Lamb added: “I’m really excited to have signed on with such a prestigious club.
“To be surrounded by some of the best players and coaching staff has massively benefited me so far – especially this season – and I’m really excited to continue the journey and push on.”
Scrum-half Niall Saunders has also put pen to paper on a new contract after making his debut for the Club in this season’s Anglo-Welsh Cup at home to Worcester Warriors. Former Epsom College student Saunders is the son of former Ireland scrum-half Rob Saunders and has represented Ireland at U18, U19 and U20 levels. Joining the Academy ahead of the 2016/17 season, Saunders has also represented Harlequins at 7s.
After being released at the end of last season due to medical reasons, Saunders returned to Harlequins ahead of securing a new contract in the Academy. On his new contract, Saunders added: “I’m very excited to have re-signed for the Club after what had happened last year, it was something I knew would be a long and tough road back, not only emotionally and mentally but physically as well.
“It’s great to be back in the environment of so many world class players, to feed off their knowledge and to also work out why they’re at the top of their game, especially the likes of Danny [Care]; someone I think plays the most exciting rugby as a nine in world rugby.
“It’s been a massive learning curve for myself and feel I’ve come out stronger in all aspects, I’m really looking forward to the future and being involved with Harlequins again.”
Fellow scrum-half Calum Waters has been involved with the Harlequins Academy since May 2015, joining aged 18. Waters scored on his Harlequins debut away to Exeter Chiefs in March 2017 and has made two further appearances this season in the Anglo-Welsh Cup. A speedy and diminutive number nine, Waters has also represented the club at 7s and 10s level.
Confirming his extension with the Club, Waters said: “I’m thrilled to have re-signed with the Club. I’m really looking forward to developing my game further as a scrum-half under the coaches we have here as well with the guidance of senior players such as Danny [Care] and Dave [Lewis].
“I’m excited to kick on at Harlequins over the next couple of seasons and add to the number of appearances I have made so far for this great club.”
Player profiles
Gabriel Ibitoye
Wing
D.O.B: 05/03/1998
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 92kg
Dino Lamb
Back Row
D.O.B: 18/04/1998
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 108kg
Calum Waters
Scrum-half
D.O.B: 31/08/1996
Height: 5’6″
Weight: 78kg
Niall Saunders
Scrum-half
D.O.B: 21/12/1997
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 88kg
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments