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Harlequins bring in English-qualified No9 from North Harbour
By Online Editors
Harlequins have signed scrum-half Lewis Gjaltema from North Harbour ahead of the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season. The 22-year-old was a member of the Blues’ wider training squad in recent times, training alongside Harlequins and England centre Joe Marchant.
Gjaltema said: “I’m really excited to join Harlequins, meet a bunch of new teammates and get involved in what sounds like a good team and be part of something pretty cool. Coming over to Harlequins is a new challenge and a new opportunity, and I can’t wait to get over there.
"I had a Zoom call with Paul Gustard and he laid out Harlequins’ values, what they are trying to achieve and what they are about. To me, that just aligned perfectly with what I believe in and what I'm excited to be a part of. So when he sold me on that I couldn’t say no to coming. I’m looking forward to it.
“There is a really good crop of half-backs at Harlequins right now with Danny (Care), Martin (Landajo) and Scott (Steele), so there is an opportunity for me to learn off those guys, challenge them and just be part of making this club something really great.”
Gustard added: “We have been watching Lewis in the Mitre 10 Cup for a while where he has had many impressive performances. We signed Lewis some months ago and we are looking forward to seeing him link up with the squad over the next couple of months.
“We have received excellent feedback on Lewis’s character and dedication to the game from the likes of Blues head coach Leon Macdonald and our own Joe Marchant, who spent time with Lewis within the Auckland Blues training squad.
“Lewis is a hard-working, English-qualified nine with a strong core skill set and has a demanding way about him with the forwards. Our fans will be looking forward to seeing him supplement the experience and challenge our talented group of scrum-halves already in place for a matchday spot.”
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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