Club profile: Harlequins

Dan Luger adds an attacking threat on the wing

It was a season of two halves for Harlequins last year in which the key figure was Zinzan Brooke.

Prior to his departure the most notable result of the season came in the cup when Quins eked out an improbable victory over Northampton, a match the New Zealander missed having returned home for a short break.

By the time of the next cup game Brooke was gone for good, and the rugby revolution began with a memorable victory over Leicester.

The renowned cup specialists fell at the final hurdle against Newcastle, but made amends with victory in the European Shield final which, in turn, assured the club of European Cup rugby this term.

Cups and glory are one thing, but the league has always proved a different proposition for Quins and their new coach, John Kingston, will want his charges to translate that one-off effort across a whole campaign.

The initial signs that the Harlequin stereotype is set to be a thing of the past are positive as Kingston and Mark Evans, the club's chief executive, have convinced a host of top quality players to put pen to paper and commit themselves to the cause.

The most significant signings have been the England triumvirate of Jason Leonard, Will Greenwood and Dan Luger.

Leonard spurned Wasps to sign an extension to a contract that will take him through to the end of his career and England's most capped international was joined in the queue of present players re-signing by Greenwood, Roy Winters and Garrick Morgan.

Luger returns to the Stoop having spent one injury-hit year away with Saracens and has been joined in the move from Watford by Bill Davison and Tony Diprose.

The only negative aspect after a summer of activity is that David Wilson, the club captain, will not orchestrate proceedings on the pitch after being sidelined with a knee injury.

The Australian's absence on the openside will be covered by Tu Tamarua, who arrives from Queensland Reds on the recommendation of his compatriot, and Keith Wood will step into the breach and lead the team.

The playing squad is strong, season ticket sales are at an all-time high and with Kingston, Wilson and Wood driving the team on, everything is in place for Harlequins to live up to their sobriquet, the Mighty Quins.

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Facts and figures

Ground: Stoop Memorial
Coach: John Kingston
Captain: David Wilson/Keith Wood
Last season: 11th

Players in: Bill Davison (Saracens), Tony Diprose (Saracens), Dan Luger (Saracens), Matt Moore (Sale), Tu Tamarua (Queensland Reds).

Players out: Brendan Daniel (Coventry), Mike Friday (Wasps), Rory Jenkins (Wasps), Daren O'Leary (Gloucester), Peter Richards (Roma).