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'They did an amazing job': New Harlequins deals for backroom trio

By Kim Ekin
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Harlequins coaches Nick Evans, Adam Jones and Jerry Flannery have signed new unspecified length deals to continue on at the Gallagher Premiership club. All three played an integral part in helping to stabilise the club following the exit of Paul Gustard in January 2021, inspiring them to go on and win the league title five months later, and their reward now is fresh deals at The Stoop. 

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A Harlequins statement read: “Harlequins is delighted to announce that coaches Adam Jones (scrum coach), Jerry Flannery (lineout and defence coach) and Nick Evans (attack and backs coach) have put pen to paper on new deals at The Stoop as the English champions continue to build for long-term, sustained success following their 2020/21 Premiership triumph.”

Senior coach Tabai Matson, who arrived at Harlequins as Gustard’s successor last summer, said about Evans, Flannery and Jones: “The coaching group did an amazing job last year with a fantastic team. It’s always interesting to come from the outside and join a cohesive group – and that’s exactly what they were. They are a high functioning team.

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“One thing I have really enjoyed is that they are all completely different. They have different energies, they are all fantastic within their portfolios and they all compliment each other really well. For me, joining a team like that was exciting. It’s fantastic that they have all re-signed as a group.

What Nick brings to the table is an analytical view. He has got all that experience from his playing days but now he is leading and driving the likes of Marcus and Danny. We are blessed to have him in the mix.

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“He is completely different to Jerry, who brings this real intensity to the way he leads the lineouts and the defence. He is a fantastic practitioner and I’m not sure if it’s just his accent but he is a wonderful storyteller and he drives a lot of the energy in the week.

“And of course, Bomb (Jones), our Welshman. It’s really an eclectic group of nations, which is one of the things we love about the game, isn’t it? Our scrum has often been the thing that has kept us in games, so with his experience and the way he drives the scrummaging, he has been a key part of the success here so far.”

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Harlequins CEO Laurie Dalrymple added: “We are all delighted to have three such highly regarded individuals sign new contracts with the club. Alongside Billy Millard (director of rugby performance) and Charlie Mulchrone (skills and kicking coach], Nick, Adam and Jerry guided this team to one of the most incredible stories in the Premiership’s history. 

“Overseeing a return to Harlequins’ DNA of old as the team has tapped into the club’s historic and famous style of play, we have seen huge engagement and interaction not only from our supporters but the wider sporting world.

“Alongside the 17 recent key player contract renewals, we are all thrilled to have Nick, Adam and Jerry commit their futures with us. By signing new and permanent deals within our coaching team working alongside Billy, Charlie and Tabai, we have built a brilliant team to help our squad grow, develop and to achieve our ambitious goals.”

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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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