Harlequins swoop for Ireland snub as ‘magnificent’ England star signs new deal with Bath
Bath centre Ollie Lawence and Ulster's Harlequins-bound lock Kieran Treadwell.
Harlequins have announced that Kieran Treadwell will rejoin the club from Ulster while Ollie Lawrence has inked a new contract with Bath and Lewis Chessum is set to join Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars for their 2025 season on loan from Leicester Tigers.
Treadwell will return to Quins from the Irish province this summer ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The former Quins Academy graduate returns to South West London having departed for the Belfast-based outfit in 2017, where he has earned 171 appearances and scored seven tries to date.
Treadwell joined the Harlequins Academy ahead of the 2014/15 season before making his senior debut later that season against Cardiff Blues in the LV= Cup.
Having represented Ireland at U18 and England at U20 level, the behemoth second-row – who qualifies for Ireland through his mother – made his Test debut for the men from Emerald Isle in 2017.
Snubbed by Ireland for 2025 Six Nations
Since then, the 29-year-old has earned 11 international caps and was part of Ireland’s squad when they won a Six Nations Grand Slam title in 2023 but was not named in their squad for this year’s Championship which gets underway this weekend.
“I’m excited to get back and play in front of a packed-out Stoop,” said Treadwell.
“I’m quite a big man of fate and the stars have aligned. This was the right opportunity for me at this stage in my career and I’m looking forward to getting started in the summer.
“There is a bit of unfinished business for me at the club. I’ve never played in the Premiership for Harlequins and that was a big goal of mine when I was a young whippersnapper! I’ve been away from my family for nine years too, so I can’t wait to play in front of them at home again.”
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson added: “Kieran is an athletic second-row who has explosive qualities on both sides of the ball in the loose. He’s also got a good skillset at the set-piece which can be a real asset for us moving forward.
“Kieran also brings experience to the squad with well over 150 appearances at club level and his time spent in the international setup with Ireland. We’re looking forward to welcoming him back to the club this summer.”
Meanwhile, England star Lawrence has committed his long-term future to current Premiership table-toppers Bath.
The experienced 25-year-old centre, who joined the West Country outfit in October 2022, has gone on to make 44 appearances for them and scored 16 tries.
His rugby career started at Worcester Warriors where he won the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2022.
Lawrence has made 31 Test appearances for England and was part of their squad when they secured a third-place finish at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
‘I believe we have so much potential’
Reflecting on his new deal, Lawrence said: “I’ve enjoyed my time at Bath over the last few seasons. It’s helped me grow as a player on and off the field. I believe we have so much potential within this group and I’m excited for what we can achieve over the next few seasons.”
Bath’s head of rugby Johann van Graan said: “Ollie has been magnificent for us, not only this season, but since he first joined the club. He has established himself as a starting international player. I love the way Ollie has improved as a player and as a person whilst at Bath. We are excited to see Ollie continuing his journey with us and his best is definitely yet to come.”
Elsewhere, young Leicester Tigers second-row Chessum is heading to Japan Rugby League One outfit Mitsubishi Sagamihara Dynaboars on a loan deal for their 2025 season as part of a new partnership between the two clubs.
Chessum has also agreed a new deal with the Premiership club which will see him remain a Tigers player beyond their current campaign.
He has made 12 senior appearances for Leicester and represented England at age-grade level. Following his season with Dynaboars, the 21-year-old will return to Leicester for the final block of the 24/25 season.
On the loan of Chessum, Leicester Tigers chief executive Andrea Pinchen said: “Lewis is a great representative of our club and our academy system, and has made great strides in his development in recent years, which this experience will only add to while he is in Japan.
“I am certain he will thrive in a new, challenging environment and kick off this brand-new partnership in the perfect way.”
