Kingston Quins' new Head Coach

Harlequins have announced the appiointment of John Kingston as new Head Coach following the departure of Andy Friend.

Harlequins have announced the appiointment of John Kingston as new Head Coach following the departure of Andy Friend.

Friend has left the Twickenham Stoop to become the new coach of the Brumbies, and Quins have moved quickly to fill the vacancy.

Kingston, who joined the coaching team at Harlequins in the summer of 2001 from Irish side Galwegians, will replace Friend in the Head Coach position as part of Harlequins' re-structuring of the playing department.

A former Harlequins player, Kingston also played for Newcastle Gosforth, Rosslyn Park, Middlesex and London Division, England U23 and England B, along with captaining a winning Cambridge Blues side.

Present Academy Manager, Colin Osbourne, will take up the Assistant First Team Coach position alongside Kingston. Osbourne originally joined Quins as the First XV backs coach in 1990. He went on to take the role of Head of Youth Development and then succeeded to the Manager's role in 2006.

Taking over as Academy Manager will be Tony Diprose. The former Harlequins, England and British Lions player, Diprose assumed the role of Assistant Academy Manager in July 2006 after retiring from professional rugby.

Kingston, Osbourne and Diprose will all continue to work under the guidance of Director of Rugby, Dean Richards.

“I am delighted that John has decided to take the Head Coach position, with Colin Osborne joining him in the first team and Tony Diprose taking control of the Academy,” said Richards.

“I am a true believer in natural progression within a club and rewarding individuals for their commitment and effort. I have a huge regard for all my coaching staff and I am looking forward to next season.”