Harlequins winning Premiership Rugby Cup a 'massive step in the right direction', says Stephan Lewies

Harlequins forward Stephan Lewies believes winning the Premiership Rugby Cup on Monday night will fill the squad with the belief they can challenge for major honours next season.

Quins travel to Sale for tonight’s rearranged final, which was originally scheduled to take place in March but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both sides are looking to end their trophy droughts, with Sale having not lifted silverware since 2006 and Harlequins since 2013.

Sale are still hoping to finish in the Premiership’s top four this season and have made nine changes to their side, but Harlequins have named a strong team by recalling the likes of captain Chris Robshaw after he missed their win at Gloucester last week.

“We have a lot of young players and the group hasn’t been together that long,” Lewies told Standard Sport.

“So I think winning the Cup would be a massive step in the right direction. It will give us the taste of achieving something and we can build on that going into next season, which starts straight after this one.

“We have a long way to go but we are excited for that challenge ahead and I think this will just help us get to our end goal a bit quicker.

“I believe if we win this there will be a lot of confidence and next time we play in a final – even if people see this one as a smaller competition – you can take some of those experiences. You have been there, you’ve done that.”

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