Harlequins Name Squad For Big Summer Kick-Off

April 21, 2023
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Ultimate Rugby

Harlequins’ Men’s coaching team have named their squad for Saturday’s Big Summer Kick-Off match against Bath Rugby at Twickenham Stadium.

The Gallagher Premiership fixture has all the ingredients to be a thriller with Quins needing a bonus point victory to remain in the hunt for the play-offs, while Bath travel to Twickenham following two strong wins over Gloucester and Exeter.

The Starting XV features just one change following last Saturday’s 48-20 win over Newcastle, with experienced prop Will Collier returning to the front-row to make his 219th Club appearance.

Amongst the Impact Players, there’s a return for centre Luke Northmore who shifts back into the 23 to make his first appearance since the Champions Cup clash with the DHL Stormers.

Previewing Big Summer Kick-Off, fly-half Marcus Smith said: “We have put a massive emphasis on this game in terms of the significance and importance of getting the required result. We know and we believe that if we put our best foot forward and play the game in our style, we will be tough to live with.

“Not many clubs get the chance to play at Twickenham Stadium. We are very lucky we get the privilege to play here at least twice a season and we’re excited for the occasion and the opportunity to play in front of the Quins faithful.

“In the last two games Bath have been extremely physical, they have been extremely confrontational, you look at their forwards, they have internationals across the pack who have many skills that we need to nullify. We have got to be right on our mettle in terms of our defence but in attack as well we have got to be on our roles in the breakdown. If we do that hopefully we will get good speed of ball and we can score some points.”

Harlequins Starting XV

1. Joe Marler (265)

2. Jack Walker (43)

3. Will Collier (218)

4. Dino Lamb (81)

5. Irne Herbst (22)

6. Luke Wallace (196)

7. Will Evans (62)

8. Alex Dombrandt – Captain (112)

9. Danny Care (357)

10. Marcus Smith (138)

11. Cadan Murley (98)