In a seismic shift on the rugby landscape, Danny Wilson, head coach of Harlequins, has opted to leave the club to join the Welsh Rugby Union as an assistant coach. This move comes just as the Gallagher PREM season is about to kick off, leaving Harlequins to rally their forces without their main man. The announcement was made following Wilson's conspicuous absence at the Prem launch at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.
Wilson's departure is a significant blow to Harlequins, especially considering his track record of propelling the team to their first-ever Champions Cup semi-final. Under his leadership, Harlequins notched impressive victories against top-tier teams such as Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors, and Bordeaux, and secured a memorable win over Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.
"This has been a really tough decision for me to make as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Quins, but the chance to join Wales and return to international rugby was simply too good an opportunity to turn down,"
said Wilson, reflecting on his tenure at Harlequins.
He also highlighted his pride in integrating a new generation of players into the team, a move that promises to benefit Harlequins in the forthcoming seasons. Wilson expressed his gratitude towards the players, board, staff, and fans for their unwavering support during his stint.
In the interim, Harlequins' coaching staff, including Nick Evans (Attack), Jason Gilmore (Defence), Adam Jones (Scrum), and Gerard Mullen (Skills), along with General Manager Andy Sanger MBE, will assume increased responsibilities to fill the void left by Wilson.
Harlequins CEO, Laurie Dalrymple, commented on the situation, asserting the club's support for Wilson's move and their readiness for the upcoming challenges.
"Whilst we recognise that we are close to the start of the new Gallagher PREM campaign, we are confident in our coaching team’s ability to step up and deliver, and we are excited to kick off our PREM season,"
Dalrymple remarked.
As Harlequins brace for their upcoming matches, including a home game against Bath that is expected to draw a sell-out crowd, the club remains focused and optimistic about the future, despite the untimely departure of their head coach. Meanwhile, Wilson gears up for a new chapter in his coaching career, bringing his expertise back to the international rugby scene with the Welsh national team.
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In a seismic shift on the rugby landscape, Danny Wilson, head coach of Harlequins, has opted to leave the club to join the Welsh Rugby Union as an assistant coach. This move comes just as the Gallagher PREM season is about to kick off, leaving Harlequins to rally their forces without their main man. The announcement was made following Wilson's conspicuous absence at the Prem launch at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium.
Wilson's departure is a significant blow to Harlequins, especially considering his track record of propelling the team to their first-ever Champions Cup semi-final. Under his leadership, Harlequins notched impressive victories against top-tier teams such as Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors, and Bordeaux, and secured a memorable win over Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season.
"This has been a really tough decision for me to make as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Quins, but the chance to join Wales and return to international rugby was simply too good an opportunity to turn down,"
said Wilson, reflecting on his tenure at Harlequins.He also highlighted his pride in integrating a new generation of players into the team, a move that promises to benefit Harlequins in the forthcoming seasons. Wilson expressed his gratitude towards the players, board, staff, and fans for their unwavering support during his stint.
In the interim, Harlequins' coaching staff, including Nick Evans (Attack), Jason Gilmore (Defence), Adam Jones (Scrum), and Gerard Mullen (Skills), along with General Manager Andy Sanger MBE, will assume increased responsibilities to fill the void left by Wilson.
Harlequins CEO, Laurie Dalrymple, commented on the situation, asserting the club's support for Wilson's move and their readiness for the upcoming challenges.
"Whilst we recognise that we are close to the start of the new Gallagher PREM campaign, we are confident in our coaching team’s ability to step up and deliver, and we are excited to kick off our PREM season,"
Dalrymple remarked.As Harlequins brace for their upcoming matches, including a home game against Bath that is expected to draw a sell-out crowd, the club remains focused and optimistic about the future, despite the untimely departure of their head coach. Meanwhile, Wilson gears up for a new chapter in his coaching career, bringing his expertise back to the international rugby scene with the Welsh national team.