Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Veteran Luke Wallace exits Harlequins mid-season

Harlequins' Luke Wallace during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Harlequins at The Recreation Ground on January 28, 2022 in Bath, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

Harlequins have announced that flanker Luke Wallace will leave the club at the end of December, bringing an end to his 12-year career at the Stoop.

ADVERTISEMENT

The 33-year-old will leave the club as one of the few players to win the Gallagher Premiership in both 2012 and 2021 with the London club.

Wallace enjoyed a stint away from Quins between 2019 and 2021, where he played for Coventry and Leicester Tigers before returning to the club he rose through the ranks with in May 2021. He signed a new deal with the club in 2022, but has struggled for game time this season. He will leave with 198 appearances to his name though in a Quins career that has spanned 12 years after making his debut in the 2011/12 season.

Video Spacer

Jamie George passionately defends Owen Farrell | Big Jim Show | RPTV

RugbyPass tv

Video Spacer

Jamie George passionately defends Owen Farrell | Big Jim Show | RPTV

RugbyPass tv

On his departure, Wallace said: “I have loved every minute of representing this Club. I’ll obviously always remember the big results, specifically lifting the two Premiership trophies and the LV Cup, but I think my fondest memories will be the wins away in Europe and the celebrations that followed with a great group of mates.

“I would like to thank my teammates, coaches, and staff for their huge support throughout my career. Lastly a special mention to the Quins faithful who have supported us through thick and thin.”

“This was always the plan just to play for six months in this first block of the season,” he added in a video message by Quins. “Obviously with the World Cup, the plan was that I’d obviously play a bit more in that first period. Unfortunately I got injured earlier on in that first period in preseason. And then with the [London] Irish guys coming in as well, it just meant the back row ranks were a bit fuller than we expected. So unfortunately didn’t get to play my 200th game, that was a big motivation for me this year.

“Just looking for a different challenge now, whether that’s in rugby – I’m exploring stuff abroad, I’d like to play abroad before I retire – or exploring other career options as well.

ADVERTISEMENT

Director of Rugby Billy Millard added: “Luke has been an incredible servant to our Club and the ultimate professional over two very good stints. He’s been a true Harlequin and a player that will be remembered for his work-rate and dedication, leading from the front on and off the pitch. We wish Luke the very best as he progresses into his next challenge.”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

18 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Joe Marler wasn't wrong to take a pop at the All Blacks' haka Joe Marler wasn't wrong to take a pop at the All Blacks' haka
Search