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No end in sight yet to Harlequins' trolly dash as three more signings announced

By Online Editors
James Horwill talks to his Harlequins team after their Gallagher Premiership defeat to Gloucester this month (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Having lit a fire with the signings of four overseas Test internationals earlier in the week, Harlequins boss Paul Gustard initially turned his attention to indigenous UK talent on Wednesday with the announcement that he has captured two local forwards for next season before again shopping overseas.

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The London club stole a march in the recruitment stake for 2019/20 with the early week revelation that they have captured the signatures of Argentina duo Martin Landajo and Santiago Garcia Botta, Italy’s Michele Campagnaro and Wales’ Scott Baldwin. 

The signings continued to come thick and fast on Wednesday, with Gustard first revealing he had snapped up 22-year-old English openside Will Evans from Leicester and Scottish second row Glen Young from Newcastle. He then later unveiled an overseas addition, adding 27-year-old South African lock Stephan Lewies to the mix.

Evans enjoyed a stellar rise through the ranks at Leicester in the closing stages of the 2015/16 season, making his senior debut and then going to the World Under-20s championships with England who reached the final. He was named in that competition’s dream team and became a member of England’s senior EPS squad of 45 at the tender age of 19.

Gustard said: “Will is a player I have been fortunate to work with before. He’s a young man with a very clear goal of where he wants to get to and we are delighted he has chosen to join us as he takes the next step forward in his burgeoning career.

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“He is a tough-on-the-ball seven, he tackles hard and runs with real intent. He is a super talent and I’m confident in our ability to help him develop his game, fulfil his potential and realise his ambitions, which in turn will help us achieve ours.”

Evans said: “There is a great buzz around Harlequins at the moment and I know they are an incredibly ambitious club.”

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Young, meanwhile, has been with Newcastle since he played for their under-18s in 2012/13. Two years later he broke into the first team and represented his Scotland’s under-20s.

He played the 2015/16 season on dual registration with Doncaster and was named in the Championship dream team that season, having made the play-off final. Young then made his Premiership debut the following season.

Gustard said: “Glen is an incredibly promising talent and we’re looking forward to having him as part of our squad as we look to build on the early momentum we have earned to date.

“He has impressed us with his playing performances and we were delighted that he is the kind of self-effacing character we are looking for. He is hungry, energetic and is desperate to improve. He loves lineouts and will add real awareness and acumen to our calling systems and structures.”

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Lewies is currently on loan with Lions but played the majority of his career in South Africa with Sharks where he made 80 appearances. He earned his only Test cap at the age of 22 when he replaced Victor Matfield in a 2014 55–6 win over Scotland in Port Elizabeth.

“We feel Stephan has illustrated that desire to compete and find a way to win,” said Gustard. “We are confident we can provide an environment that will see him succeed. It is a very positive signing for the club.”

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Adrian 1 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

11 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 8 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.

29 Go to comments
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