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'Huge honour' - Harlequins confirm who's taking over Chris Robshaw's role as club captain

Chris Robshaw (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images for Harlequins)

Harlequins have named second row Stephan Lewies as Club Captain ahead of the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup campaigns, with the Springbok following in the footsteps of legendary captains such as Keith Wood, Will Carling, Jason Leonard, Andre Vos and Chris Robshaw.

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Making an instant impact at the South West London Club after arriving ahead of the 2019/20 season, having played Super Rugby for both the Sharks and Lions in South Africa, Lewies was in the starting XV in 19 of his 20 appearances in the Quarters to date.

Lewies, 28, made his Test debut for reigning Rugby World Cup Champions South Africa in a 55-6 victory over Scotland in 2014.

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“It’s a massive opportunity – a huge honour,” said Lewies. “It comes with big responsibility but it’s something special and I’m really excited. Never in my wildest dreams when I signed did I think I’d be in this position.

“Gussy gave me a phone call and said he wanted to make me captain. I asked for a few days to reflect on it. It’s a big decision and it has to be best for the team so I made a few phone calls to some of the senior players – DC, Marler, Browny – to get their thoughts. You need those senior players buying into a leader. They’ve been part of this club for a long time. It’s not a one-man job; it’s a team effort.

“They were massively supportive, all three of them, so after speaking to them I had more confidence in the role and I accepted it.”

On following in the footsteps of a rich history of famous Club Captains, Lewies added: “Robbo was an amazing leader and I learned a lot from him. I still look up to him.

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“I was a youngster when Andre (Vos) played. Growing up playing for the Springboks, he was someone we all looked up to. They are big shoes to fill in that regard.”

Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: “Steph has universal respect across the Club and has the ability to relate and communicate with our younger players whilst also having strong relationships with our experienced stars. We are looking forward to seeing the team develop further under Steph.

“I know our fantastic fans will show their appreciation and support for big Steph – our captain, their captain, Harlequins’ captain.”

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Bull Shark 1 hour 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.

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