Long-serving Harlequin to call it quits at the club after 18-year service

Tony Diprose is to quit as Harlequins’ academy and global development director at the end of the current season when his contract expires.

Diprose started his career at Quins as a player in 2001 and went on to make 123 first-team appearances before moving into coaching and overseeing the development of one of England’s most successful academies.

As a coach, first under Dean Richards and then Conor O’Shea, he helped deliver the club’s most successful period in the professional era, winning the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2011, the Aviva Premiership in 2012 and the LV= Cup in 2013.

Diprose said: “I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute to this club for 18 years come June. 

“I have hugely enjoyed working with everybody at Harlequins, from the players to the staff and the supporters, but for me on both a professional and personal level, the end of this season is the right time to look for a new challenge.

(Continue reading below...)

“It’s great to see the men’s team back performing well under Paul Gustard. Seeing a forward pack underpinned by academy graduates - including the likes of Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler, Will Collier, Jack Clifford and James Chisholm - alongside the emerging academy talents in the backline - Joe Marchant, Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley and Gabs Ibitoye - makes me hugely proud to have been part of their development.

“On the women’s side I‘m completely committed to doing everything I can to help us regain silverware this season as the Tyrrells Premier XV’s season approaches its conclusion and making sure that the programme is set up for continued future success. I will say my goodbyes when the season is over.”

Harlequins chief executive David Ellis added: “Tony has been a wonderful servant to our club over the past 18 years and I would like to personally thank him for all his efforts throughout that time.

“We talk at Harlequins of being a custodian of our position and being committed to passing it on in a better place. There is no doubt that throughout Tony’s work he has achieved this, and he should be rightfully proud of his successes. We wish him the very best for his future endeavours.”