Stephan Lewies departs for Sharks

Harlequins can confirmed that second row Stephan Lewies will leave the Club at the end of the 2025/26 season to join the Hollywoodbet Sharks.

Lewies joined Harlequins ahead of the 2019/20 campaign from South Africa and has since made 85 appearances in all competitions for the Club.

Lewies returns to his native South Africa after seven seasons at The Stoop, in which the lock has been a powerful presence and leader in the forward pack.

In November 2020, Lewies was appointed Club Captain, succeeding Chris Robshaw. In that role he led Harlequins through a memorable 2020/21 Gallagher PREM season, culminating in the Club’s second PREM title after a 40-38 victory over Exeter Chiefs in the final at Twickenham.

Lewies stepped away from his captaincy role ahead of the 2024/25 season, passing the baton to Alex Dombrandt, but has remained a valuable and influential member of the Club’s leadership group.

“I reflect on my seven years at the Club with a huge amount of gratitude. I arrived at the Club in 2019 with a few suitcases and a girlfriend, I’m leaving the Club with a lot of memories, new friends, a wife and baby,” said Lewies

“My time at Quins has been unbelievable. It’s hard to put it into words really and say thank you enough, but gratitude is the word that comes to mind and a lot of pride as well.

“The aim for this season is to finish on a high. If there is one Club that has proven they can turn it around, it is Harlequins and I believe we can do that. It started against the Stormers at the weekend, and we’ve got another big game against La Rochelle on Sunday.

“On a personal level, my slogan for the rest of the season is to ‘empty the tank’ and give everything I have to the Quins jersey, whether that’s on or off the pitch. I just want to give my all and make everyone proud.”

Senior Coach Jason Gilmore added: “We wish Steph, Ash and their family all the best as they return back home to South Africa. Steph has been central to the Club both as a player and Captain, including the run to the 2020/21 title.

“His physical presence, leadership and demanding of standards are traits that he installs every day into the Club and will continue for the rest of the season. 

“We will miss having Steph’s presence at the Club, but we know he has left a positive legacy for the next wave of Harlequins to come through.”