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Robshaw coy on next move after announcing decision to leave Harlequins

(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Former England captain Chris Robshaw has announced he is to leave Harlequins at the end of the season after 16 years with the club.

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The 33-year-old flanker played 66 Tests for England, his last coming against South Africa in June 2018.

Last week, RugbyPass revealed that Robshaw is set for talks in New York this week ahead of a potential move to Major League Rugby.

Robshaw has made 203 appearances for Quins, captaining the side a record 92 times, and twice won the Premiership Player of the Year award during his time at the Stoop.

He is one of only two players to appear over 200 times for the club.

Robshaw wrote on the Harlequins website: “As a boy, wearing my oversized Harlequins shirt, I could never have imagined I would be fortunate enough to play for the team I admired the most.

“Which is why it has been a particularly difficult decision for me to leave the club after 16 extraordinary years.

“I will be hanging up my Harlequins shirt at the end of the season. And though there is so much I will miss about playing for this team, I will always be eternally grateful and proud for having had the chance to stand alongside such extraordinary players.

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“All the while, being supported by the best fans in the world.”

Robshaw was named England captain for the first time by Stuart Lancaster for the 2012 Six Nations, over two-and-a-half years on from his only international cap.

He led England in their 2015 World Cup campaign on home soil – which ended in pool stage elimination – and he was replaced as skipper by Dylan Hartley in January 2016, but retained his place in the side on the back of impressive club form.

Robshaw made no reference to retiring in his statement, hinting he intends to extend his playing career with a different club.

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He continued: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the coaches and everyone at Harlequins who have helped me achieve my dreams, the Harlequins Academy and my incredible team-mates without whom none of this would have been possible.

“Despite all the intense training hours, and the emotional and physical demands of the job, it never felt like work.

“Putting on the Harlequins shirt will always remain the greatest privilege of my professional career.

“I look forward to the next chapter in my life, and will keep you posted. But wherever I end up next, I will do my utmost to make you proud.

“The Stoop & Harlequins will always be my home. Let’s enjoy the next few months.”

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JW 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Even the 20/30 cappers did too I reckon.


IDK, I think Jordan has a limited life span in this side unless he can develop more to his game. Like you go on to mention, I think theyres more important things to worry about than the effectiveness of someone's extra strings, or secondary components to their game.


Bash backs are Fosters thing, and to a large part they've made it work. Theyre now one of the best teams in the world.


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Try and take a look at it this way. Dissapointed Havili and Blackadder were in the side? Havili despite clearly shown that he can't do what the team needs at 12 was kept on for the RWC. Back goes down and he brings in Blackadder who doesn't play. Refuses to drop Christie when he should and look who starts this season. Beauden Barret not playing well enough to keep his 10 jersey but we gotta keep him in the side. Weve only got one 8, we stuff developing another I'll just play Ardie every game.


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