Harlequins icon Chris Robshaw has issued a passionate plea for the club's supporters to remain behind the team during a deeply troubling period of form. The London side are in the midst of a severe slump, having lost four consecutive matches in the Gallagher Premiership.
Harlequins' Premiership Struggles Deepen
The situation at the Twickenham Stoop is stark. At the halfway point of the league season, Harlequins find themselves a daunting 23 points adrift of the play-off places. The scale of the challenge was brutally emphasised last weekend in a 66-21 defeat to Northampton Saints, a result the club itself labelled as "not acceptable" in an official statement.
Coach Jason Gilmore has warned that significant decisions regarding player contracts are imminent as the search for a solution intensifies. However, Robshaw, who will be on punditry duty for Premier Sports this weekend, has jumped to the defence of the playing squad, emphasising their shared pain with the fanbase.
Robshaw's Message of Unity and Patience
"As a player, you know how the players are feeling and no one hurts or feels as bad and as guilty as the players," Robshaw stated. "No one will be trying harder to try to rectify things."
The former England captain pointed to the need for structural patience, drawing a direct comparison with a successful project in North London. He highlighted the early struggles of Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, who was backed through difficult times before building a title-challenging side. "You see it with an Arteta, who struggled in his first season or two but was backed and supported, so now look at how Arsenal are doing," Robshaw said.
He posed the critical question facing the club's hierarchy: "So do you stick and support or do you try and change everything? That’s why the guys at the top are paid the big bucks to make those decisions."
Champions Cup Offers a Crucial Lifeline
Attention now turns to the Investec Champions Cup, where Harlequins face a monumental task against the Stormers, who are unbeaten in all competitions this season. The match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 from 5pm this Sunday. Robshaw sees the European competition as a vital opportunity for redemption. "The Prem is over, but we can use this opportunity in the Champions Cup to try to achieve something," he urged.
Amidst speculation about the club's future direction, one name linked with a potential return is former Harlequins number eight and defence coach Nick Easter. Currently impressing in charge of Chinnor, Easter has built a strong coaching CV with stints at Newcastle, the USA Eagles, and the Sharks in South Africa.
While not explicitly endorsing his former teammate, Robshaw praised Easter's acumen. "Nick was one of the smartest rugby players out there... With coaching, I think you’ve got to earn your stripes a bit and he’s done his time," Robshaw commented, noting Easter's enjoyment of his current role.
The immediate focus, however, remains on Sunday's high-stakes European fixture at The Stoop, where the team will be desperate to reward the loyalty Robshaw is calling for.
