Harlequin F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Harlequins Rugby Football Club | ||
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| Union | Middlesex RFU | ||
| Nickname(s) | Quins, The Entertainers, The Quarters | ||
| Founded | 1866 (as "Hampstead Football Club") |
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| Location | Twickenham, London, England | ||
| Region | London Borough of Richmond | ||
| Ground(s) | Twickenham Stoop (Capacity: 14,800) | ||
| Chairman | David Morgan | ||
| CEO | Laurie Dalrymple | ||
| Director of Rugby | Billy Millard | ||
| Coach(es) | Danny Wilson | ||
| Captain(s) | Stephan Lewies | ||
| Most appearances | Danny Care (357) | ||
| Top scorer | Nick Evans (2249) | ||
| Most tries | Danny Care (107) | ||
| League(s) | Premiership Rugby | ||
| 2022–23 | 6th | ||
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| Official website | |||
Harlequins (officially Harlequin Football Club) is a professional rugby union club. They play in Premiership Rugby, which is the top league in English rugby union. Their home stadium is the Twickenham Stoop. It is located in Twickenham, a part of south-west London.
The club started in 1866 as "Hampstead Football Club". A year later, some members left to form Wasps RFC. In 1870, Hampstead changed its name to Harlequins. They were also one of the first clubs to join the Rugby Football Union in 1871. For over 100 years, Harlequins was a top team even before rugby became professional in 1995.
Harlequins have won the English league title twice. They won in 2012 and again in 2021. They also won the European Challenge Cup three times (2001, 2004, 2011). Plus, they won the domestic cup in 1988, 1991, and 2013.
The current club captain is Stephan Lewies. Billy Millard is the Director of Rugby for the 2023–24 season.
Contents
History of Harlequins
How the Club Started
The Hampstead Football Club began in 1866. Their first recorded game was in 1867. A disagreement in 1867 led to some members leaving. They went on to form the club now known as Wasps. In 1870, the club was renamed Harlequin Rugby Football Club. This was because members were no longer just from the local area. The name 'Harlequin' came from a dictionary. It refers to a funny character from old Italian plays. Everyone liked the new name.
For its first 40 years, the club played at 15 different places. Since 1909, they have mostly played at just three locations. In 1906, the Rugby Football Union invited the club to use the new national stadium in Twickenham. In the early days, only a few international games were played there. Soon, Twickenham became the main home for Harlequin Football Club.
The Stoop Becomes Home
In 1963, Harlequin FC bought a sports ground. It was about 14 acres (57,000 m2) big. This land was right across the road from the Twickenham stadium. It first became their training field. Later, it became their main home ground. This place is called the Stoop Memorial Ground. In 2005, it was renamed The Twickenham Stoop. It is named after Adrian Dura Stoop. He played for England and helped develop modern rugby tactics.
Rugby Leagues and Professional Play
Rugby leagues started in 1987. This made the game more competitive. Harlequins stayed in the top league as one of England's best 12 clubs until 2005. The club has won the Rugby Football Union knockout cup twice. They won the John Player Cup in 1988 and the Pilkington Cup in 1991. They also reached the finals in 1992, 1993, and 2001.
Harlequins holds a world record. They provided the most players from one club (8) in a Rugby World Cup final. This happened in the 1991 World Cup final at Twickenham. Seven Harlequin players played for England. One player, Troy Coker, played for Australia.
Harlequins was the first British team to win the European Shield in 2001. They beat Narbonne 42–33 in the final. They were also the first team to win the tournament twice. They beat Montferrand 27–26 in 2004.
In 2005, Harlequins were moved down to National Division One. This was because they finished last in the top league. In 2006, they completely dominated National Division One. They won 25 out of 26 league matches. They secured their return to the Premiership on April 1st, with four games left.
Recent Seasons and Successes
The 2011–2012 season was a great one for Harlequins. They won their first ten league games. They finished top of the league. On May 26, 2012, Harlequins beat Leicester Tigers in the Premiership final. They won 30–23 to claim their first Aviva Premiership title. Tom Williams and Chris Robshaw scored tries. Nick Evans scored 20 points from penalties and a conversion. Chris Robshaw was named man of the match.
In the 2012–2013 season, Harlequins won the LV= Cup. This was their third title in this competition. This win also earned them a spot in the 2013-14 Heineken Cup.
In the 2020–21 season, Harlequins had an amazing comeback. They were losing 28–0 against Bristol Bears in the semi-final. But they fought back to win 36–43 after extra time. This was the biggest comeback in Premiership Rugby history. On June 26, 2021, they played Exeter Chiefs in the final. Harlequins defeated the champions 38–40 to win their second Premiership title.
In the 2023–24 season, Harlequins made history in the Champions Cup. They won their first ever knockout game in the Round of 16. They then won an exciting away game against Bordeaux Bègles. This meant they reached their first ever semi-final in the competition. They were eventually defeated by Toulouse.
Harlequins' Home Stadium
Harlequins play their home games at the Twickenham Stoop. It is located in Twickenham, London. The stadium is named after Adrian Stoop. He was a famous England international player. He also played for and later became president of the Harlequins club.
The club bought the land, which was an athletics pitch, in 1963. It was 14 acres (57,000 m2) big. It was very close to the main RFU ground. It started as a training pitch. Over time, it became the main home ground for Harlequins. The site allowed for expansion. Many upgrades have been made since then. The stadium can now hold 14,800 people. For many years, it was called the Stoop Memorial Ground. In 2005, it was renamed The Twickenham Stoop.
Harlequins also play two special games each year at Twickenham Stadium. One is in December, called the Big Game. The other is in June, called the Big Summer Kick-Off.
The Harlequins Foundation
The Harlequins Foundation started in 2015. It is a charity that helps people. It runs two main programs. "Switch" helps young women and girls become leaders. "METTLE" teaches 9-12 year olds about physical and mental health. Studies show that METTLE helps kids feel more confident and make better decisions.
In 2018, the Foundation teamed up with The Movember Foundation. They work together to help rugby fans and the community with men's health issues. They also provide information about mental well-being. The Foundation also gives money to other local charities. In 2020, they partnered with The Duke of Edinburgh's Award. This makes them the only rugby club allowed to offer this award.
Club Rivalries
Harlequins has several rivalries in English rugby. Most of these are with other teams in the Greater London area.
Many people think Harlequins' biggest rival is Wasps RFC. Both clubs actually started as one club, Hampstead Football Club, in 1866. Wasps was formed because of a disagreement among members a year later. Even though Wasps moved away from London, the rivalry is still strong because of their shared history.
Other rival teams include Saracens F.C. and London Irish. Both of these are also Premiership clubs. Saracens are from north London, and London Irish are from west London.
Team Kit
The Harlequins kit is one of the most unique in rugby. It has stayed mostly the same for many years. The shirt always has a quartered design. It usually features chocolate brown, French grey, magenta, and light blue. The sleeves are black and green. Most changes have only been to the size of the quarters or how the colors are arranged.
Recently, the 2021–22 home shirt went back to a more traditional look. It brought back the green and black sleeves. The away shirt is red and white. It has a design that looks like a map of London and the River Thames. In 2022, Harlequins announced a new deal with the British sportswear brand Castore. Castore now designs and makes the kits for the men's, women's, and youth teams.
Club Honours
Major Trophies
- Premiership Rugby
- Champions: (2) 2011–12, 2020–21
- RFU Championship
- Champions: (1) 2005–06
- European Challenge Cup
- Champions: (3) 2000–01, 2003–04, 2010–11
- Runners-up: (1) 2015–16
- RFU Knockout Cup
- Champions: (2) 1987–88, 1990–91
- Runners-up: (3) 1991–92, 1992–93, 2000–2001
- Anglo-Welsh Cup
- Champions: (1) 2012–13
- Premiership Rugby Cup
- Runners-up: (1) 2019–20
- EDF Energy Trophy
- Champions: (1) 2005–06
- Middlesex RFU Senior Cup
- Champions: (1) 1982–83
Other Honours
- Premiership Rugby Shield (for reserve teams)
- Champions: (2) 2003–04, 2012–13
- Runners-up: (3) 2005–06, 2009–10, 2011–12
- Middlesex Sevens (a faster, shorter version of rugby)
- Champions: (14) 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1935, 1967, 1978, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2008
- Glengarth Sevens Davenport Plate
- Champions: (1) 1986
- Cunningham Duncombe Series
- Champions: (2) 2015, 2017
- Melrose Sevens
- Champions: (2) 1987, 2017
- Kilmarnock Sevens
- Champions: (2) 1984, 1985
Current Squad
The Harlequins squad for the 2024–25 season is:
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
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Academy Squad
The Harlequins academy squad is:
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
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Club Staff
Rugby Department
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Director of Rugby |  Billy Millard |
First Team Coaching
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach |  Danny Wilson |
| Attack and backs Coach |  Nick Evans |
| Scrum and transition coach |  Adam Jones |
| Defence Coach |  Jerry Flannery |
| Director of performance development | Tabai Matson |
Academy
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Academy Manager | Chim Gale |
| Academy Coach Development Manager | Gary Street |
| Academy Coach | Jim Evans |
| Academy Coach | Jordan Turner-Hall |
Famous Former Players
Lions Tourists
These Harlequins players were chosen for the Lions tours while playing for the club:
- Alex Palmer (1910 Tour to Argentina)
- Horace Evelyn Ward (1910 Tour to Argentina)
- Jim Reeve (1930)
- Pop Dunkley (1936)
- Robin Prescott (1936)
- Phil Davies (1955)
- J. R. C. Young (1959)
- David Marques (1959)
- Bob Hiller (1968 & 1971)
- Stack Stevens (1971)
- Peter Dixon (1971)
- Will Carling (1989 & 1993)
- Paul Ackford (1989)
- Jason Leonard (1993, 1997 & 2001)
- Brian Moore (1993)
- Peter Winterbottom (1993)
- Keith Wood (1997 & 2001)
- Will Greenwood (2001 & 2005)
- Ugo Monye (2009)
- Joe Marler (2017)
- Kyle Sinckler (2017)
- Marcus Smith (2021)
Rugby World Cup Players
The following players have played for their countries at the Rugby World Cup while with Harlequins. Tournament winners are in bold:
| Tournament | Players selected | England players | Other national team players |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 2 | Jamie Salmon, Marcus Rose | |
| 1991 | 7 | Brian Moore, Jason Leonard, Paul Ackford, Michael Skinner, Peter Winterbottom, Will Carling (c), Simon Halliday | Troy Coker |
| 1995 | 4 | Brian Moore, Gerry Murray, Jason Leonard, Will Carling (c) | Jim Staples Gerry Murray |
| 3 | Jason Leonard | Gareth Llewellyn , Luke Gross  |
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| 2003 | 4 | Jason Leonard, Will Greenwood | Schalk van der Merwe  , Norman Ligairi  |
| 2007 | 4 | Nick Easter, Andy Gomarsall | Tani Fuga, Steven So'oialo  |
| 2011 | 3 | Nick Easter | Tomás Vallejos  , Maurie Fa'asavalu |
| 2015 | 8 | Joe Marler, Chris Robshaw (c), Nick Easter, Danny Care, Mike Brown | Netani Talei , Jamie Roberts , Tim Visser  |
| 2019 | 7 | Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler | Michele Campagnaro  , Paul Lasike , Tevita Cavubati, Semi Kunatani, Vereniki Goneva |
| 2023 | 7 | Jack Walker, Joe Marler, Danny Care, Marcus Smith | Dino Lamb , André Esterhuizen  , Dillon Lewis |
Images for kids
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A Harlequin F.C. team before World War I.
