Ulster Rugby v Harlequins

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HARLEQUINS

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Harlequin FC was formed in 1820 after a split in Hampstead Football Club – those who took a different view went on to form the club now known as Wasps. During its first 40 years the club led a nomadic existence, playing in no fewer than 15 ‘home’ venues. In 1906 the Rugby Football Union – of which 'Quins were a founder member – invited the club to play its home games at the new national stadium at Twickenham. The purchase of a 14-acre athletics ground opposite Twickenham in 1963 subsequently became home: The Twickenham Stoop. In the 1991 Rugby World Cup Final, 'Quins supplied a record number of players – seven to England, one to winners Australia. Douglas Bader, the feted World War 2 fighter pilot, played for the club before famously losing both his legs in a plane crash. In 2010’s Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Leinster at The Stoop, the notorious ‘Bloodgate Scandal’ subsequently saw Director of Rugby Dean Richards banned from rugby for three years.

Conor O’Shea was appointed to succeed Richards in March 2010, and in 2012 a first Aviva Premiership title was secured with a 30-23 defeat of Leicester at a packed Twickenham. 'Quins’ reputation for adventurous rugby has seen it recruit overseas stars such as Zinzan Brooke, Earle Kirton and Thierry Lacroix. Eddie Jones, the current Head Coach of the England national rugby squad, has Harlequins Mike Brown, Danny Care, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler and Chris Robshaw in his squad.

10 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT HARLEQUINS

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