Harlequins confirm 21/22 season leavers

Harlequins can confirm the seven names set to leave the Club this summer

The Club would like to thank all seven players for their time in the Famous Quartered jersey as they leave the Club or retire at the end of the season.

Long-serving Harlequin Joe Gray is joined by lock Matt Symons and prop Craig Trenier, enforced by injury, in retiring from professional rugby. Gray moves into a Head Coach role with London Scottish while Symons and Trenier will focus on careers outside of rugby.

Already announced earlier this season, Hugh Tizard (Saracens) and Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) will join their new clubs this summer. Christian Scotland-Williamson and Mak Wilson also depart the Club this summer.

Head Coach Tabai Matson commented: “First of all, I’d like to thank every one of our seven leavers this summer for their dedication to the jersey during their tenures at the Club.

“Joe, Matt and Craig hang up their boots at the end of the season and should be immensely proud of their careers as professional athletes – a feat so many strive to achieve.

“Hugh, Christian, Mak and Huw have been fantastic during their times with us and I know all will go on to find great success in their next steps.”

Joe Gray

A two-time Premiership winner across two stints and 177 appearances in the Famous Quarters, Joe Gray will hang up his boots as he retires from professional rugby this summer. Establishing himself as an England international during his time with Harlequins, Gray will swap his iconic blue scrum cap for the coaches' whistle as he takes up his new role as Head Coach of London Scottish following the announcement of a strategic partnership between the Championship club and Quins.

Matt Symons

Announced earlier this season, second-row Symons will retire this summer following a four-year stint with the London club having joined from Premiership rivals Wasps, previously representing London Irish and the Chiefs in New Zealand. Symons moves immediately into a role in central London working in commercial real estate. A key figure in Harlequins Premiership win last season, the lock will long be remembered at The Stoop.

Craig Trenier

Calling time on professional rugby due to injury this summer following a two-season spell with the Club, tighthead prop Trenier will call time on his playing career having joined from Championship side Ealing Trailfinders ahead of rugby’s return from the pandemic in the summer of 2020. Making his Club debut in the Premiership season opener away to Newcastle Falcons earlier this campaign, the Irishman will retire to focus full-time on his successful recruitment business, Albert Bow.

Christian Scotland-Williamson

Second-row Scotland-Williamson leaves the Club this summer following a one-year stint with Quins, arriving at The Stoop last summer having returned from a three-year spell in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mak Wilson

Former Scotland U20 prop Mak Wilson will leave Harlequins this summer after two years in the Quartered jersey. Joining from Super 6 side Southern Knights, Wilson made his debut for Quins in the Premiership Cup, but has also tasted the fierce competition of the Champions Cup, coming on against Cardiff Rugby earlier this season.

Huw Jones

Scotland international Jones will depart London this summer following a one-year stint in the Quarters, re-joining Glasgow Warriors in Scotland. A versatile back, Jones first made his mark in the centres for Quins, but has since gone on to earn his most memorable performances for Harlequins at fullback, with 28 appearances for the Club to date.

Hugh Tizard

Harlequins Academy graduate Tizard will depart the Club this summer to join London rivals Saracens. Making his senior debut in 2019 against his new club, Tizard earned more regular game time for Quins having burst through during the team’s title-winning 2020/21 season, earning his Premiership and Champions Cup debuts.