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Harlequins' Charlie Walker finds a new home in Italy

Harlequins' Charlie Walker, here embracing Jack Clifford this month versus Leicester, is off to the PRO14 (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)

Former England sevens player Charlie Walker has found himself a new club after agreeing to join PRO14 outfit Zebre. The winger had played nearly 100 matches for Harlequins before bowing out at the Londoners at the end of this season.

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A Leicester Tigers academy product, Walker moved to London in 2011 and became an under-20 Six Nations winer with England the following year. He was also called up to the English sevens squad, playing in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

After a couple of years on loan in the Championship, he returned to the Stoop and his career accelerated under Conor O’Shea, who is now coach of the Italy national team.

The 26-year-old, who scored 27 tries in his 60 Premiership appearances, will now link up with his new team in Italy in July for pre-season training.

I’m very excited by this great opportunity at Zebre that will also allow me to test myself in a context of a different culture.

“The club has great ambitions and clear objectives of what it wants to become. After talking to coach Michael Bradley about the rugby style he wants to play, it was immediately clear to me that Zebre are the right club for my future.”

The Italian club’s manager Andrea De Rossi added: “A wing is coming. Walker is an extreme player due to his speed, dynamism, great technique and good tackling as he also demonstrated with the England national sevens.

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?2011 ?? 2019 ? • • After 7 of the best years of my life followed by one of the toughest, I will be leaving Harlequins at the end of the season. Absolutely gutted to not make the ? club. However to have represented such a prestigious club 96 times and to score 44 tries, it has been an absolute honour. I would firstly like to thank the fans who have been there through the highs & lows, as well as the coaches and staff from both Surrey Sports Park & the Stoop. Secondly – a huge shout out to all the lads I’ve had the pleasure to play with, especially those who’ve been at the club since my day 1. You’ve made it a pleasure to come to work every day. Huge couple of weeks coming up which ill be putting everything into, lets go get it ??! #COYQ

A post shared by Charlie Walker (@cjnwalker) on

“He is certainly an excellent finisher. He immediately showed interest in the Zebre project, coming to Parma to see the club, get to know the staff and the city before signing.

“He is a close friend of David Sisi and has been positively referenced by Conor O’Shea. Everything has made the process that led to the agreement simple and quick.”

WATCH: The RugbyPass documentary on Zebre and the rugby life in Italy

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TI 1 hour ago
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Rieko took literally years to turn from a defensive liability at 13 into a guy, who’s defensively sound as it befits the position. And it all came at the cost of him being much less of an offensive threat, than what he used to be. Proctor is a natural 13, he handles, passes, and kicks way better than Rieko ever will, he just isn’t as fast.


It’s unfair to judge Tupaea on the handful of games he’s had in 2022 before he got nearly crippled by a Wallaby lock. What could Tupaea/Proctor pairing be, if they got the same amount of chances as Jordie/Rieko?


Because no matter how you spin it, playing a player outside of his natural position is a poor asset management. No matter how talented he is, he still competes against players who had years and years of practice at the position. And if said guy is so talented that he actually CAN compete against specialists, imagine how much better still he could have been, if he had all those years to iron the toothing issues at the position. It just drives me mad.


Two things I hate in rugby union beyond description: aping after league, and playing players outside of their natural position. Especially considering, that they all admit they hate it, when they’re allowed to speak freely. Owen Farrell spent 80% of his international career at 12, saying every time when asked, that he is a 10 and prefers to play at 10. Those players are literally held at a gunpoint: play out of position, or no national jersey for you.

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Hellhound 2 hours ago
What has happened to Aphelele Fassi?

Willie will always be the most missed player for me once he retires. He wasn't interested in scoring tries. The ultimate team player. Has the most assists in tries in the Bok team, and his kicks always spot on, at least 95% of the time. He reads the game like no other player can. He wasn't flashy, and people didn't notice him because of that. Great rugby head and knowledge. He should be catapulted into an assistant coach in the rugby system. He should really consider coaching.


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As for Aphelele Fassi. What a great find and he has exceptional talent that Rassie will mould into a world class player. Yet.... He is nowhere even close to Damien Willemse. He has a long way to go to get there, but he is surrounded by great team mates from who he will gain lots of advice and support. He can play wing and fullback and Rassie may just try him out as a flyhalf or centre too. He has the abilities to expand his game. He is for sure a future star, but not yet at the stage to take away Damien Willemse's spot. However, DW start and AF on the bench, that is an awesome replacement. Between the 2 they cover all positions in the backline once AF gets that training. The Boks could go 6/2 permanently if they wanted. 6 forwards, a scrumhalf and AF. I may be wrong, but Rassie will spread AF around.

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