Harlequins 'thrilled' to re-sign South Africa's Lochner

South Africa second row Danelle Lochner has re-committed to Harlequins for the 2026/27 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.

Since she joined the West London side from Western Province in 2023 the lock has made 26 appearances for the club.

Last season the 28-year-old was a key player for the Twickenham Stoop team as they went back to the PWR semi-finals for the first time in three seasons.

Ross Chisholm, Harlequins head coach, added: “We’re delighted that Danelle has committed to Harlequins again ahead of the 26/27 season. We’ve seen during her time at the club and in international colours, just how good of an operator she is.

“She is superb in the set-piece and an incredibly dynamic player in attack. We’re really excited about seeing her take her game to the next level in our environment and we’re thrilled that she will be wearing the Quarters again next season.”

Lochner was a relative latecomer to rugby after only taking up the sport seriously after the COVID-19 pandemic. Before then the forward was a netball international and represented the Proteas across three years.

At last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup she was part of the Springboks Women squad that made history in England by reaching the quarter-final stages.

It was the first time a South Africa side had graduated from the pool stages and were level at 10-all of their last eight clash with New Zealand’s Black Ferns at half-time.

This season Lochner has seen her time in a Harlequins jersey impacted with injury. After Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 the lock forward had a six-month wait to get back on the pitch.

The 28-year-old ultimately made her return in PWR against Bristol Bears at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in Round 16 of the 2025/26 season.

Lochner said: “I am so honoured and happy to have yet another opportunity to represent Quins in the PWR. I can’t imagine playing for a different team and I am really excited to see what next season has in store.”