Harlequins sign Wales hooker Baldwin
Harlequins have announced their fourth new signing in two days with Welsh international hooker Scott Baldwin joining the Club for the 2019/20 season.
He’s linking up with the Gallagher Premiership club after 10 years with Ospreys, where he has made over 120 appearances.
On Monday Quins announced the signings two Argentinians for the 2019/20 season, scrum-half Martin Landajo and loosehead Santiago Garcia Botta. Michele Campagnaro signing was announced earlier on Tuesday.
Baldwin, who has 34 caps for his country, said: “There is something special going on at Harlequins at the moment and I am looking forward to starting my Gallagher Premiership career there next season.
“I have met with Gussy and the staff at Harlequins and been very impressed with the winning mentality that they have installed there.
The hooker, who was part of the Ospreys’ Pro 14 winning side in 2012, added: “I am going there to win trophies and I know they have the squad and the mindset to do it.”
Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: “Scott is an excellent signing for the Club. He has had an outstanding career for club and country so far in Wales and I am very pleased he is joining us next season.
“We have followed him in the Pro14 and he has impressed with his attitude, his humour and all-round technical ability. We know he will be a great fit and a key member of the squad as we look to improve and fulfil our ambitions.
“He is a big man, who excels in the set-piece and is abrasive both sides of the ball around the field. He will add leadership qualities to our group and brings a wealth of experience to the squad.
“We look forward to welcoming Scott and his young family to the club.”
? NEW SIGNING | Wales international Scott Baldwin becomes the latest player to sign for Quins #COYQ
— Harlequins ? (@Harlequins) March 19, 2019
The 30-year old former Bridgend hooker has been with the Ospreys since being offered the chance to step up from the Principality Welsh Premiership at the start of 2009.
Having made his debut as a replacement against Leinster at the Liberty Stadium in March of that year, his first start came in October 2011. The 11/12 campaign was very much a breakthrough year for Baldwin as he made 13 appearances, coming off the bench in the RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final and final victories over Munster and Leinster.
His 100th appearance was in a 21-13 European Cup win over Clermont Auvergne and he currently stands on 161 appearances, scoring nine tries and Baldwin said it was a wrench to leave the club.
“I’m really sad to be moving on from my home Region, where I have so many memories and friends, but it’s the right time for me to take up a new challenge in a new environment.
“While I’m looking forward to experiencing Premiership rugby with a great club, we’ve still got everything to play for here at the Ospreys over the last four weeks of the regular season. We have to aim to end the season on a high and I want to help the team secure a top three finish, securing Champions Cup rugby and extending the season into May.
“This will always be my home Region and I’ll always be an Ospreys fan.”
Baldwin infamously spent some times on the sidelines in 2017 after being bitten by Lion while visiting a safari in Bloemfontein ahead of the Ospreys’ Guinness Pro?14 clash with the Cheetahs.
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments