Harlequins senior coach Jason Gilmore has openly admired the talents of Northampton Saints and England full-back George Furbank, refusing to dismiss speculation of a potential move for the player. Furbank, 29, will see his contract with the reigning Premiership champions expire next summer, sparking significant interest from rival clubs.
Gilmore Praises "Good Player and Leader"
When pressed on the swirling transfer rumours linking Furbank with a switch to the south-west London club, Gilmore was notably complimentary. "George is a good player, isn't he? And a good leader," Gilmore stated. The coach acknowledged that a player of Furbank's calibre, who made his England debut in 2020, is bound to attract attention from other teams.
Gilmore drew a parallel to the recent contract situation of Harlequins' own Chandler Cunningham-South, indicating that top talent naturally becomes the focus of recruitment discussions. "Those players are going to attract interest. Definitely a good player," he added. While stopping short of confirming any deal, Gilmore noted, "We'd be interested in any good player that fits in with our roster." He declined, however, to comment on specific "ins and outs" regarding the club's recruitment strategy.
Big Game 17 Promises Twickenham Thriller
Gilmore's comments came as he prepared his squad for Big Game 17 at Twickenham this Saturday, where Harlequins will face Bristol Bears. The event is a double-header, with the women's match between Harlequins and Bristol kicking off at 3.05pm, followed by the men's fixture at 6pm.
Fans are being promised an entertaining spectacle, with Gilmore predicting an open, attacking contest on the larger Twickenham pitch. "I don't see the scoreline being 10-7," he said. "Twickenham is a bigger pitch, there's more space to attack into. When you get two attacking teams on a bigger field, generally you'll get bigger scorelines."
He also highlighted the specific threat posed by Bristol's powerful South African centre, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, who is set to qualify for England next year. "He's a collision guy in that midfield, there's no shying away from it," Gilmore warned, emphasising that his players must meet the challenge head-on.
Gloucester Confirm Williams Departure
In other Premiership transfer news, Gloucester's director of rugby, George Skivington, has expressed his disappointment at the impending departure of Wales international scrum-half Tomos Williams. The club confirmed Williams will leave next summer, though his destination remains undisclosed.
"We did our best but that's rugby, that's sport," Skivington said. "There's no hard feelings and he's in here for the rest of the season – I know he'll give everything." Gloucester have moved to fill the gap, announcing the return of academy graduate Dan Robson from French side Pau for next season.
Skivington struck a more optimistic tone regarding the club's major new signings, Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake, who were unveiled on Monday. He described them as "honest, hard-working, tough characters" of the right age to drive the club forward.
