Harlequins confirm Men’s squad for 2022/23 season

August 25, 2022
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Ultimate Rugby

The 69-man senior squad, consisting of 43 senior players, is bolstered by 26 of the Club’s most promising Senior Academy talent, with 69% of the squad products of the Harlequins Academy.

The squad that solidified its place in the top four of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership - the only side to retain a playoff spot from the 20/21 campaign - and knockout rugby in the Champions Cup is bolstered by two new signings, with South African Irne Herbst and former Harlequins man Charlie Matthews strengthening options in the second row.

Having impressed upon their chances in the senior squad last season, Harlequins Academy players Fin Baxter, George Head, Jack Musk, Sam Riley, George Hammond, Jack Kenningham, Matas Jurevicius, Lennox Anyanwu and Oscar Beard all graduate to become senior players this year. The squad has also welcomed 12 new faces into the Senior Academy.

The squad will begin their season’s preparations with warm-up fixtures against London Scottish (Away, 27 August) and Leinster (Home, 2 September), before kicking off the 21/22 season away to Newcastle Falcons on Saturday, 10 September.

Harlequins Head Coach Tabai Matson said: “Pre-season is always a great time of year. There is a great feel and mentality within camp as we head into two warm-up games against London Scottish and Leinster over the next two weeks.

“We want to start the season well and have two tough games to gauge where we are.

“This is going to be a different start for the group compared to last season, with an increased number of boys returning to us late at the start of the campaign from international duty. This presents a new challenge for us, but equally new opportunities arise from that.

“We have a great core of home-grown players within this squad and some of those younger guys will have the chance to step up throughout the year with increased international recognition for some of our senior players.

“The goal for this group remains the same as last year – we want to ensure we compete in both the league and Champions Cup, but a top four spot in the Premiership is our ultimate goal. We know this team can fly once they are in a playoff position.

“To do that, the group has to be laser-focused on growing and developing on top of the standard we set last year.”

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