Harlequins statement: The signing of scrum-half Will Porter

Harlequins’ preparations for the 2023/24 season continued on Tuesday with the confirmation that Will Porter has been signed. The ex-Wasps scrum-half was made redundant in October when the Coventry-based club went to the wall financially and he has since been on a short-term injury cover deal at Pat Lam’s Bristol.

Porter’s long-term future has now been decided, though, as he will link with the London club in the off-season. Harlequins already have ex-Wasps winger Josh Bassett playing for them, with Joe Launchbury set to arrive in the summer.

A statement read: “Scrum-half Will Porter has been revealed as Harlequins’ latest signing ahead of the 2023/24 season. Joining from Bristol Bears, the 24-year-old will link up with Quins this summer to add yet further depth at number nine, alongside Danny Care who extended his Harlequins contract at Christmas.

“A product of the Wasps academy prior to his successful mid-season move to Bristol Bears this campaign, Porter previously represented England at U17, U18 and U19 level before making his mark on the Gallagher Premiership for Wasps against Bristol Bears in 2018.

“Born in Philadelphia before moving to the UK at the age of one, Porter represented Wasps on 58 occasions, helping the side reach the 2019 Premiership 7s final. To date, Porter has featured for Bristol four times.”

10-and-a-half weeks after the collapsed Wasps last played in the Premiership, @heagneyl ??? investigates what has since happened to the 23 players who lost to Northampton on October 9 at the CBS Arena. #GallagherPremhttps://t.co/rzlqk7Y92V

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 22, 2022

Porter said: “Harlequins is an exciting club to join and I’m looking forward to playing my part in the team. Quins are a club that, much like Bristol, play a really positive brand of rugby and it will be great to get stuck into their game plan.”

Harlequins head coach Tabai Matson added: “Will is a great operator who has excelled with two top Premiership sides in Wasps and Bristol. He will add further quality depth at scrum-half for us and we’re looking forward to seeing how he fits in this summer. We feel that his skills will suit our way of playing well and it will be exciting to see what he can do within this Quins side.”