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'He plays a positive brand of rugby': Harlequins sign Italian international Tommaso Allan

By Sam Smith
(Photo by Getty Images)

Harlequins have signed Italian international Tommaso Allan, the 61-cap Azzurri out-half who has spent the last five seasons at Benetton in the Guinness PRO14 having previously been at French club Perpignan. 

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“I’m filled with excitement signing for Harlequins,” said Allan. “Playing for a club like Quins is what a lot of players dream of. It’s a prestigious team with lots of history. The club’s style of rugby is similar to how I like to play. 

“It’s an exciting team with an attacking mindset, which mirrors the way I like to go about my rugby. The team seems to have a big fan base. Hopefully, they will welcome me in with open arms.

“It will be nice to link up with Scott Steele again, who I played with a lot at the Scottish age-grades. I’m genuinely really excited to give it my all with Harlequins and look forward to pushing for some silverware at The Stoop. I know my wife and I are really looking forward to moving to London and embracing a new challenge.”

Now 28 and a sub when Italy visited Twickenham last February in the Guinness Six Nations, Allan made his Test debut in 2013 as a 19-year-old, arriving from the bench against Australia. He had previously represented Scotland at U17, U18 and U20 age-grade levels while part of the Wasps academy.  

Harlequins general manager Billy Millard added: “We’re really pleased to announce that Tommy will join us next season. He plays a positive brand of rugby and the type of game that we think will complement the Harlequins way well.

“Tommy allows us great depth at fly-half and as a proven international he brings fantastic pedigree to what is a talented backs unit at the club. We’re very much looking forward to welcoming him to the team and seeing him settle into the playing group.”

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Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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