O'Leary's chequered farewell

O'Leary was a Quins stalwart for eight years

BBC Sport Online's Matt Slater talks to English professional rugby's leading all-time try-scorer Daren O'Leary about life after Harlequins.

Being told you are surplus to requirements is not the greatest preparation for the biggest game of your career.

But that is exactly what Daren O'Leary had to deal with in the final days before Harlequins' European Shield final against Narbonne.

O'Leary, who many consider to be the best uncapped winger in British rugby, had hoped that his end-of-season flourish would be enough to earn him a new contract with the London-based club.

But with the team busy preparing for the season's final, and defining, game, Quins boss Mark Evans told O'Leary that his contract would not be renewed.

  Daren O'Leary

Position: Winger and occasional full back

Born: 27/6/1973, Harold Wood, Essex

Appearances: 166

Tries: 106 (533 total points)

Career highlights, 1993: England's Five Nations training squad

1996: First England A cap (vs Italy)

1997: England tour of Argentina

2001: European Shield winner's medal

After eight years, 166 games and 106 tries, the quicksilver winger would be playing his last game for Quins in his first ever final for the club.

It is to his credit that O'Leary did not let his disappointment cloud what turned out to be a great for the club and, ultimately, a personal triumph.

"It did not make any difference to me at all," said O'Leary of the contract blow.

"It was my first final after eight years at the club, and I was desperate to play.

"While everybody else was playing for two prizes - European qualification and silverware - I wanted the silverware."

In many ways, Evans' decision to tell O'Leary that he would be released before such a big game was a compliment to the 27-year-old winger's professionalism. Or maybe it was a cunning motivational ploy?

Whatever the intention, the result was clear: O'Leary had a superb game.

One more try than Jeremy Guscott, though, is not a bad thing to have on your CV!

  Daren O'Leary

With the game tied at 26-26 in extra time, O'Leary took a short pass from England centre Will Greenwood to go over under the posts and give Quins a crucial seven-point advantage.

"Scoring that try and collecting the winners' medal are definitely my best memories of my time at Quins," said O'Leary.

"I had a fantastic eight years at The Stoop, and I really wanted to stay.

"But I can honestly say that my best memory is my final memory. So I leave Quins in good heart and with no bitterness."

That said, O'Leary clearly felt he had shown the new Quins regime enough to have earned a new contract.

"I was very disappointed not to make the Tetley's Bitter Cup final side, but I played every game after that and managed to cross the line a few times," he said.

"In fact the second of my two tries in the final game against Sale put me back in first place on the all-time list.

O'Leary's pace has brought Quins 106 tries

"I thought I had done enough, but that's rugby. With the money they save on me they could hire two young players.

"One more try than Jeremy Guscott, though, is not a bad thing to have on your CV!"

But while Quins, who are currently in negotiations with England winger Dan Luger, can find room for him, there should be no shortage of other teams interested in his proven finishing ability.

"It's all looking quite positive at the moment. I've already had a few expressions of interest."

In fact, the hunt for O'Leary's signature started before the bubbles of his celebratory champagne had gone flat.

Leading rugby agent, and former Lion, Mike Burton had got wind of O'Leary's availability and was first to offer his expert help.

Essexman O'Leary is keen to find another London club, but would move if there are no openings in the capital.

"I would consider any Premiership club, but I would prefer not to have to move," he said.

"I know that when (second row) Bill Davison moved from Quins to Saracens he bought a moped. I could try that."

While London Irish, Wasps or Sarries would be the easiest move, Gloucester are probably favourites to sign the winger.

O'Leary is congratulated on his extra-time try

The West Country club are known to be in the market for a winger, and Burton has strong links with the club.

Another factor is the presence of former Quins coach Andy Keast, a fan of O'Leary's, at Kingsholm.

Keast is currently working as Gloucester's backs coach, and O'Leary would love to team up with him again.

"It is all quite exciting at the moment, and this is before word has fully gotten out about my availability," he said.

"The one slightly worrying thing is that teams seem to building their squads earlier than I can ever remember.

"With the Lions being away until close to the start of next season, everyone else will be back doing conditioning training in early June.

"But hopefully my try in the final and the last few games of the season have put me back in the shop window."

As for Quins, O'Leary's departure - and that of Rory Jenkins and Jamie Williams - means that only Jason Leonard remains of pre-professional Stoop set-up.

An era - given O'Leary's recent experience of the cold facts of professional sport - that now seems decades ago.