Harlequins raid BUCS Super Rugby for rising star

Harlequins have dipped into the university rugby pathway by securing the services of Roma Zheng, a rising star of the BUCS Super Rugby competition.

Zheng's arrival at the club's Senior Academy is set to boost the team's prospects ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 season.

Hailing from Warrington RUFC, the talented player has recently gained recognition by representing England Students on the international stage and will join after completing his final year of education at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Zheng's performances in the BUCS Super Rugby competition have garnered attention for his exceptional skills in attack. Over the course of his first two years in the competition, he has scored an impressive 21 tries, carried the ball 233 times, and left 175 defenders in his wake.

Zheng will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Cardiff Met graduates Alex Dombrandt and Luke Northmore.

"Getting the opportunity to be part of the Quins Academy is very exciting, and something I've worked really hard to achieve. It's a huge opportunity for me and I can't wait to start my journey and contribute to the rich history of the Club."

Head of Academy Chim Gale, commented: "We're thrilled to confirm Roma's signing and welcome him as a Senior Academy player. Roma is someone that we have had our eye on for a while. He's a highly talented young player, with great skills, speed and athletic power. We're confident he will make an impact at Quins and we're looking forward to watching him develop even further, with another season of BUCS Super Rugby under his belt."

Dr Daniel Milton, Head of Men’s Performance Rugby at Cardiff Met, added: “We are excited for Roma and feel he has the potential to grow and develop into an outstanding rugby talent. It’s fantastic to see the approach Harlequins have taken to supporting Roma in finishing his academic studies whilst starting his career. We are excited to see Roma following in the footsteps of Alex and Luke and continue the strong relationship we have with Harlequins.”