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Catrakilis has to fill big boots at Harlequins
By
Chris Jones
Demetri Catrakilis is relishing the daunting job of replacing All Black Nick Evans as the Harlequins play-maker and main points scorer with the boot in next season’s English Premiership campaign.
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The 27-year-old South African born No10 has joined Quins from Montpellier and is already in training with a squad that will be captained by former Wallaby skipper James Horwill and will feature current Lions stars Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler along with former England captain Chris Robshaw, Mike Brown, Danny Care and Marland Yarde along with Wales’s Jamie Roberts and Scotland’s Tim Visser.
Catrakilis said: “I like to try and run the game which comes with decision making and that is sometimes with the boot. When you’ve got to make those decisions all your skills have to be up there. I’ve been working hard on my running game the last few years as well as my kicking game so I’d like to think I’m a well-rounded player.
“I’ve got to meet the boys and it’s almost been like my first day at school, with a lot of new names and a new place to get used to. The facilities are great and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I’ve been watching Quins play since I was a teenager, obviously it’s a really great club and historically it’s one of the best. As a young kid growing up, if you want to come to Europe Harlequins is probably one of the clubs you want to come to.”
Evans won 16 All Blacks caps and scored a record 2,249 points for Quins where he is now part of the coaching set up.
