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Harlequins sign trio of international forwards
By Martyn Thomas
Harlequins have announced a hat-trick of international signings ahead of the 2024-25 Premiership Women’s Rugby season.
Canada back-row Sara Svoboda, Spain tight-head Laura Delgado and Sweden utility forward Maja Meuller each signed on the dotted line at The Stoop on Thursday.
Svoboda and Meuller head to south-west London from Loughborough Lightning, where they had both played their English club rugby since the 2020-21 season.
Canadian flanker Svoboda, who has won 26 caps for her country and played at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021, made 42 league and cup appearances for Lightning, scoring five tries. Meuller, meanwhile, played 57 times for Loughborough and notched 12 tries.
They will be joined at Quins by Delgado. The Spain captain has represented Exeter Chiefs and Gloucester-Hartpury in the English top-flight, helping the Circus to back-to-back championship titles.
Delgado started Gloucester-Hartpury’s 2023 Premier 15s final victory against former club Exeter but did not take part in this year’s play-offs having returned to Spain to focus on Las Leonas’ WXV play-off against Wales.
“I can’t wait to start this new stage, I am delighted to have this opportunity to wear the colours of a classic rugby club,” Delgado said.
“I am full of energy, enthusiasm and commitment to do my best and work to achieve our goals together.”
Svoboda added: “Heading into a World Cup year, I’m eager to embrace this new challenge and to do my utmost to uphold the tradition of Harlequins rugby.
“I’m extremely honoured to be the first Canadian women’s international to represent Harlequins and I’m beyond excited to make my mark alongside an incredible group of players.”
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Latest Comments
Vaai is finally having his breakout year getting comfortable and showing great form at lock, and there are form players and experience all across the backrow, why on earth would you drop him to 6. Ridiculous
Go to commentsSo far, the All Blacks have won 8 matches out of 11 this year. That is a near 73% win rate. AB fans and, I assume, the team itself are not content with that and have everything to play for with the remaining 3 tests this year.
Their historical average is something like 77% these days and, although some years will always be better than others it is not likely to drop that dramatically to 70% any time soon. There is too much historical inertia on the stats. It is like saying Ireland’s form of the last 10 years or so is likely to reverse a historical average of 48% wins soon. It just isn’t.
Moreover, when you say they are ‘doomed’ to a 70% flatline are you not just assuming that Ireland will beat them again? How did that work out for you last time?
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