Gilmore: Better preparation behind Harlequins' 10/10 start to the season

Harlequins sit proudly at the top of Group B in the PREM Rugby Cup after bonus-point wins in their opening two fixtures.

Having beaten Leicester 45-21 in their opening match, Harlequins returned to the Stoop a week later and bagged all five points again in a 29-14 comeback win against Northampton.

While the acid test will be the home game against Bath in the Gallagher PREM on 25 September, the London outfit appear to be in much better shape than 12 months ago.

Danny Wilson’s abrupt departure to join the Wales coaching staff on the eve of the 2025/26 campaign left Harlequins without a head coach, and defence coach Jason Gilmore had to fill in at short notice.

Despite Harlequins’ ninth-place finish in the league, Gilmore was then handed the role on a full-time basis in a remodelled rugby department that includes the input of former Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans as performance director.

With a full pre-season to put his own stamp on things and Deans’ expertise and leadership to lean on, Gilmore feels Harlequins are much better prepared for what lies ahead.

When asked by TNT Sports’ Ugo Monye, the former Harlequins player, what had pleased him most, Gilmore said: “I think the way the boys have attacked the weeks, we are getting our Monday to Friday right. I think the professionalism and the standards that the boys are setting this year compared to last year put us in good stead. If we can get that Monday to Friday right, the weekend takes care of itself.”

Meanwhile in Group A, Gloucester bounced back from their narrow defeat to Bristol in round one with a seven-try, 43-26 win over Sale Sharks, which sees them top the standings by a point.

In the two other fixtures played this weekend, Exeter trounced Bristol 45-21, which featured a first-half hat-trick for Olly Woodburn, and Newcastle Red Bulls began their Cup campaign with an impressive 36-24 win at Leicester.