Fans at the Stoop will be desperate to improve on last season’s disappointing ninth place finish
The shock of Bristol and Harlequin Gallagher PREM a win in 2021 both feels like a long time ago now. Since that famous victory, the team from Twickenham slipped out of the first league table, and last season they were in the bottom two. Could the arrival of Northampton Saints title-winning captain George Furbank spark a change in fortunes?
Before the new season begins on Friday, September 25, The world of rugby reviews each PREM and URC the team’s chances. Keep coming back to the site ahead of the grand opening for more.
Discussion points about Harlequin
We said in last year’s review that Quins had been treading water for a few years. True, they almost sank. Head coach Danny Wilson left the club a few weeks before the start of the season, handing the keys to defensive boss Jason Gilmore.
They were soon second from bottom, with empty seats in The Stoop, expressing fans’ dismay at the boardroom process. So Quins fans, shall we end last year and start again?
The signing of Saints’ PREM-winning captain George Furbank will add shine. There have also been smart additions to the board, none more so than forwards coach Brad Cooper, who joined from Super Rugby winners the Hurricanes.
On the underside, Captain Alex Dombrandt will miss a large part of the campaign with an ACL injury.
So often last season, the prospect of resignation was the order of the day in TW2. But any team with Marcus Smith, Adán MurleyChandler Cunningham-South and Rodrigo Isgro in their ranks should challenge for the playoffs. “Something I’ve learned from last year is that if we’re on the front foot we’re a good team,” Gilmore says, “but on the back foot I’d like to see us absorb the pressure better.”
A key player
Get that ball on the front foot and the back line causes damage. To do that, you need a solid package, so Fin Baxter won’t be coming back from his foot injury. The loosehead prop is one of 25 players to receive an enhanced EPS deal for the 2026-27 season.
Expect the return of England international Finn Baxter from injury to have a big impact on the Quins pack (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
One to watch
Scrum-half Lucas Friday, 20, led Quins to a surprise win at La Rochelle last season and will feature more often this term. He has been highly rated by the likes of Danny Care and Ben Youngs.
Trainer box
In the last six months, Quins have assembled a new-look group. Robbie Deans (performance management), Cooper, Jordan Turner-Hall (defence), Sean Long (skills) and Rob Hunter (forward) now complement Gilmore, Adam Jones (scrum) and Matt Ferguson (transition).
Prediction for Harlequins 2026-27
Bottom half again, but better. Champions Cup qualification is the minimum for The Entertainers.
Harlequins 2026-27 quotas
33-1
Vital statistics
Last season was the first time Harlequins finished in the bottom two since relegation in 2004-05.
George Furbank left PREM champions Northampton Saints for the Stoop (David Rogers/Getty Images)
Harlequins signings
- George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
- James Dunn (Bristol Bears)
- Sampie Swiegers (Cougars)
- Harry Johnson-Holmes (Western Force)
Harlequins ddepartures
- George Turner (Newcastle Red Bulls)
- Joe Launchbury (retired)
- Stephan Lewies (Sharks)
- Jarrod Evans (Cardiff)
- Jamie Benson (Ulster)
- Jack Poorey-Palmer (Tigers)
- Joe Jones (Worcester Warriors)
- Jake Murray (Exeter Chiefs)
- Max Green (Oundle)
- Hayden Hyde (Ealing)
- Tom Lawday (published)
- Cameron Doak (released)
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