Harlequins break silence on Ngani Laumape rumours

Harlequins boss Jason Gilmore has denied reports that the club are interested in bringing former All Blacks inside centre Ngani Laumape to the Gallagher PREM if his Super Rugby Pacific side, Moana Pasifika, folds at the end of the season.

Moana Pasifika’s future is under threat after their backers said that they were pulling out later this year, and Laumape, 33, who has also played at outside centre, has been linked with a switch to Quins next season.

It has been reported that the former Hurricanes, Stade Français and Kobelco Kobe Steelers ace could help fill a hole in the Quins midfield left when André Esterhuizen rejoined his former club, the Sharks, two years ago.

But Gilmore has said he is putting his faith in players already at the club and that a move for a power player might have to wait until the 2027-28 campaign, and not for the 2026-27 campaign.

“No, we haven’t. In terms of our midfield, we’ve obviously got Ben Waghorn, Luke Northmore, and Oscar Beard. These lads are locked in. In terms of adding power to a squad, I think that would be more in the next recruitment cycle that we’re looking at.

“He’s a quality player. Don’t get me wrong. But I’d imagine he’d come with a hefty price tag as well. So, you know, we’ve just got to be mindful of what we’ve got left in the cap that we can spend.

“But, you know, certainly in that midfield, I definitely think we want to be adding a power player across the next 18 months, potentially,” he said.

Gilmore believes that over the next 12 months or so, Waghorn, a member of England’s 2024 Junior World Cup-winning squad, could start to make a real impact in the Quins midfield.

“André’s such a big hole to fill on your roster, isn’t he? But there aren’t too many Esterhuizens running around in world rugby, at his size, skill, and ability.

“But I’d like to think that Waghorn, with another 12 months in the gym, and his mindset to play like against Gloucester. I thought he was outstanding.

“I’ve got a lot of faith in Waggy coming through our system, whether it’s a 12 or a 13, but I think he can be that real physical, abrasive style of centre.

“Is he an André Esterhuizen? No, he’s not, he’s Ben Waghorn, but certainly, there are probably a couple of positions on the roster that we want to add genuine power to our squad in the next 12 months,” added Gilmore.