Paul Gustard delays Harlequins captaincy decision until final pre-season friendly

Harlequins will announce their captain for the new season in the coming days.

Quins, who beat Jersey last weekend, have two more pre-season matches before their Gallagher Premiership season kicks off at the Stoop against Sale on September 1.

Paul Gustard, the club’s new head of rugby, said he hopes to have his captain in place by the final pre-season game against Ealing Trailfinders — who have held some joint training sessions with Quins — a week on Friday. This Saturday, Quins head north to face Glasgow.

Gustard has a squad laden with experience to choose a captain from. Chris Robshaw, Joe Marler, Danny Care and James Horwill have all been club captain at one stage or another.

“I am still deciding, but we will announce it before the Ealing game,” said Gustard. “I might announce two people. We are still talking some things through.”

Gustard also laid down a challenge to Quins’ young fly-half Marcus Smith, who will compete with South African Demetri Catrakalis for a spot in the side, to kick on after a breakout season last year.

“My expectation and my job is to improve him, by making him a better player this year than he was last year,” said Gustard. “There are loads of things where he is not at the level he wants to get to. He is self-aware enough of things he needs to do and we have identified key areas and will continue to help him work on that.”