‘Emotional time’ as two British and Irish Lions, two England caps and one Wales player head Harlequins’ list of 18 exits
Leigh Halfpenny with the British and Irish Lions in 2017
A massive list of 18 players, including two British and Irish Lions, a pair of England internationals and a Wales prop, will exit Harlequins at the end of this season.
Ahead of the London club’s last home game of the campaign, this Sunday’s hosting of Exeter to The Stoop, director of rugby Billy Millard, who is also on the move this summer, has confirmed the huge extent of the off-season upheaval planned for the playing roster.
Among the leavers are three-time Lions tourist Leigh Halfpenny and 2021 pick Wyn Jones, who is heading back to Wales to join the Dragons. Jones’ fellow Welsh prop Dillon Lewis is also on the move.
Danny Care is retiring
Meanwhile, veteran Danny Care, the ex-England scrum-half, is retiring following Sunday’s league match while the one-cap Will Joseph is joining Gloucester.
A club statement read: “Harlequins can confirm 18 players will depart following the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. Earlier this week, the club announced Danny Care will retire from professional rugby after 19 years in the Quarters.
“In addition to the senior players that have already been confirmed to be leaving The Stoop; Lennox Anyanwu, George Hammond, Dino Lamb and Archie White will also move on to pastures new. Leigh Halfpenny, the Wales centurion and British and Irish Lion, will also move on from the club after the completion of his season-long contract.
“Lewis Gjaltema and George Head complete the senior departures from The Stoop, while in the senior academy Caleb Ashworth and Roma Zheng both depart.”
Director of rugby Millard said: “There is a strong culture here at Harlequins, which makes the playing and performance staff very tight, so it’s always an emotional time of the season as we confirm the group of players leaving the club.
“I’d like to thank all the players for their commitment to the club. They are a great group of men, and we wish them luck in the next chapter of their lives, both on and off the pitch.
“This season, I’m joining the team of leavers to take up a new challenge. My time at Harlequins has been nothing short of amazing, and I cannot thank the board, staff, players, and supporters enough for creating so many memories and friendships for my family and myself.”
2024/25 end-of-season leavers
Lennox Anyanwu, Caleb Ashworth, Danny Care, Charlie Clare, Lewis Gjaltema, Tom Golder, Leigh Halfpenny, George Hammond, George Head, Irne Herbst, Wyn Jones, Will Joseph, Nathan Jibulu, Dino Lamb, Dillon Lewis, Will Trenholm, Archie White, Roma Zheng.
