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'Personal reasons' force Paul Lasike to quit Harlequins

By Kim Ekin
(Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

USA midfielder Paul Lasike will quit Harlequins next month due to personal reasons, the reigning Gallagher Premiership champions granting the 31-year-old compassionate leave to be with his family in America following four seasons in England. He currently remains available for selection and will exit The Stoop in March following the completion of the Guinness Six Nations. 

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Lasike said: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to wear and represent the Harlequins jersey over the last four years. It’s been nothing short of a blessing for my family and I. To my teammates and brothers past and present, thank you! I’ll never forget the amazing experience of playing and supporting alongside you all. 

“To my coaches past and present, I have learned so much under your guidance. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to play and for the support you have given my family and I.

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We’re joined by England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie this week as the Six Nations squads take a break after two rounds of action. We hear from the Exeter Hooker about his journey with England and the Lions, his relationship with Eddie Jones and of course that volleyball moment in Edinburgh during the Calcutta Cup. Max and Ryan give their thoughts on the weekend battles in Cardiff, Paris and Rome, pick their team of the week and look forward to the rest of the tournament.

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Luke Cowan-Dickie, Six Nations Review and Sinckler’s Sauna | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 21

We’re joined by England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie this week as the Six Nations squads take a break after two rounds of action. We hear from the Exeter Hooker about his journey with England and the Lions, his relationship with Eddie Jones and of course that volleyball moment in Edinburgh during the Calcutta Cup. Max and Ryan give their thoughts on the weekend battles in Cardiff, Paris and Rome, pick their team of the week and look forward to the rest of the tournament.

“To the physios, strength and conditioning coaches, and player support team, thank you for keeping me in one piece and for supporting me physically and mentally during my time here. To the Quins fans, you guys are awesome. Thank you for rocking The Stoop every single time.”

Harlequins director of rugby performance Billy Millard added: “It’s been a genuine pleasure to have Paul within the Harlequins family over the last four years.

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“The rugby public has come to know him for his powerhouse running as a centre but at the club, we have had the pleasure to know him as a great guy, family man and friend. It has been hugely enjoyable to work with him. We wish Paul and his growing family the absolute best as they return to Utah.”

Lasike arrived in London ahead of the 2018/19 season from the Utah Warriors and has made 29 appearances over the last four campaigns, claiming five tries in a career that saw the New Zealand-born centre become a fan favourite. The 20-times-capped USA international and former Chicago Bears NFL player will now to re-join the Warriors for a second stint with the Utah club.

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J
Jon 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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