TODAY’S OPPOSITION

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TODAYS OPPOSITION HARLEQUINS

Harlequins is one of the oldest and most famous rugby clubs in the world. Founded in 1866, the club is a founding member of the RFU and is famous for its quartered shirt.

Harlequins has over 230 community clubs and schools affiliated locally to The Stoop, its home of over 50 years in south-west London, as well as a further eight across the world. On a playing front, Harlequins has developed successful academies and regularly provides players for international representational honours. At this year’s Women’s World Cup, Harlequins had six players representing England, two representing Scotland, two representing Australia and one representing the USA.

In 2016, during Harlequins 150th anniversary year, the club announced that it would significantly grow its involvement in the women’s game. Developing women’s rugby is a key element of Harlequin’s strategy which also focuses on growing the number of participants through an established pathway from grassroots to elite level.

In delivering this programme, Harlequins confirmed a new partnership with Women’s Premiership Side Aylesford Bulls Ladies. Under the stewardship of co-head coaches Gary Street and Karen Findlay, Aylesford Bulls secured a league and cup double, before the inauguration of the Premier 15s competition.

In the first season of the new league, Quins reached the final of the competition but were beaten 24-20 by Saracens Women at the Trailfinders Sports Ground, also losing to Saracens the following year. Harlequins are the only team other than Saracens to have won the Premier 15s, topping the table in the 2020-21 season.