Harlequins set to confirm five new signings, including rising star

Harlequins have announced their newest signing, ahead of the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season. Winger Roma Zheng is set to join the senior academy, after he completes his final year at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Zheng has had a starring role for the Welsh University this season, crossing for 21 tries in BUCS Super Rugby. The winger has also made a staggering 233 ball carries and beat 175 defenders this season! Zheng has also previously played for Warrington RUFC and gained international recognition with England Students.

Zheng will follow in the footsteps of Cardiff Met graduates Alex Dombrandt and Luke Northmore to have joined Quins.

Speaking ahead of his signing, Zheng said: "Getting the opportunity to be part of the Quins Academy is very exciting, and something I've worked really hard to achieve. It's a huge opportunity for me and I can't wait to start my journey and contribute to the rich history of the Club."

Head of Academy Chim Gale, commented: "We're thrilled to confirm Roma's signing and welcome him as a Senior Academy player. Roma is someone that we have had our eye on for a while. He's a highly talented young player, with great skills, speed and athletic power. We're confident he will make an impact at Quins and we're looking forward to watching him develop even further, with another season of BUCS Super Rugby under his belt."

Dr Daniel Milton, Head of Men’s Performance Rugby at Cardiff Met, added: “We are excited for Roma and feel he has the potential to grow and develop into an outstanding rugby side."

Quins have signed the  former Wasps second row on a multi-year deal. The England lock will join the Club this summer ahead of the 2023/24 season following a stint in Japan.

The 70-times-capped, 6ft5in and 126kg England lock returns to Harlequins having originally joined the Harlequins Academy as a 15-year-old playing for affiliate clubs Worthing and Horsham, staying with Quins until the age of 18 when he moved to Wasps.

Earning his Premiership debut as a teenager, Launchbury was named the Premiership’s Young Player of the Year award for the 2012/13 season.

The 31-year-old went on to establish himself as one of the premier locks in the country, becoming one of the most capped second rows in English history and going on to be named Wasps’ Club captain.

Commenting on his return to the Club, Launchbury said: “I'm glad to sign on with Quins. I have fond memories of my time here in the academy. I grew up playing with and against a number of the first team squad, so it has a somewhat familiar feel to come back to Harlequins."

“I’m looking forward to my time in Japan for the rest of this season, but am very excited for the new start with Harlequins over the summer.

“Quins have some of the richest history in the game and it’s been fascinating to hear how this group have tapped back into that Harlequins DNA of old over the last few seasons.

“With the style of rugby this squad plays, I know it will be an exciting setup to be a part of.”

Joining from Bristol Bears, the 24-year-old will link up with Quins this summer to add yet further depth at number nine, alongside Danny Care who extended his Harlequins contract at Christmas.

A product of the Wasps academy prior to his successful mid-season move to Bristol Bears this campaign, Porter previously represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level before making his mark on the Gallagher Premiership for Wasps against Bristol Bears in 2018.

Born in Philadelphia before moving to the UK at the age of one, Porter represented Wasps on 58 occasions, helping the side reach the 2019 Premiership 7s final. To date, Porter has featured for Bristol four times.

Commenting on his move, Porter said: “Harlequins is an exciting club to join and I’m looking forward to playing my part in the team.

“Quins are a club that, much like Bristol, play a really positive brand of rugby and it will be great to get stuck into their game plan.”

Harlequins Head Coach Tabai Matson said: “Will is a great operator who has excelled with two top Premiership sides in Wasps and Bristol.

“He will add further quality depth at scrum-half for us and we’re looking forward to seeing how he fits in this summer. We feel that his skills will suit our way of playing well and it will be exciting to see what he can do within this Quins side.”

Firstly, Harlequins have confirmed the signing of Wales international prop Lewis from Cardiff Rugby ahead of the 2023/24 season.

The 27-year-old earned his 50th cap for Wales against France in this year’s Guinness Six Nations, and joins an experienced front row contingent at Harlequins supporting a strong contingent of Academy players establishing themselves into the 1st XV.

Commenting on his signing, Lewis said: “I am over the moon to have signed here and can’t wait to get going in the summer. I am looking forward to meeting the boys and playing at The Stoop”.

When asked around what he found attractive about joining Harlequins, Lewis responded: “Their brand of rugby and also seeing the culture and environment off the field as well. I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with Adam Jones and the likes of Joe Marler and Will Collier. I have big aspirations to improve as a player”. 

Harlequins Scrum & Transition Coach Adam Jones, who briefly spent time at Cardiff Rugby with Lewis said: “I first saw him playing for the Cardiff Rugby Academy 8 years ago and I could immediately see that he was going to be a really good player.

"He joins a really talented pool of props at Harlequins and with great competition for places, they will push each other on.

"I look forward to welcoming Dillon in the summer and helping him develop his scrummaging to perform for Quins and Wales. Welcome to Harlequins Dillon!”

Quins have confirmed that fly-half Jarrod Evans will join the Club this summer, joining compatriot Dillon Lewis from Cardiff Rugby.

Commenting on his signing, Jarrod Evans said: “I’m really looking forward to coming up here. It’s a massive club with a great style of play. One of the things that really attracted me was playing in this league and I am looking forward to challenging myself”.

Evans has several close acquaintances at Harlequins already, knowing Alex Dombrandt, Luke Northmore and Marcus Smith well. He noted: “They’ve got some really classy players here – I’m looking forward to get going with them”. Evans has also worked with several of the Harlequins coaching team previously, including Billy Millard, Danny Wilson and Adam Jones and concluded: “When we come up here, it will make the transition easier. I can’t wait to get going!”

Harlequins Attack Coach Nick Evans said: “We are all excited to welcome Jarrod into our environment to add to the talent we have in the fly-half stable. Jarrod is an extremely exciting player with attributes to add to the Quins identity and style”.