Harlequins and head of rugby Paul Gustard agree to part ways after poor start to season

Simon Collings
·2 min read
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Harlequins have parted company with head of rugby Paul Gustard.

The decision has come with Harlequins sitting seventh in the Premiership table after six rounds of matches.

That is where the club finished last season too, while they suffered defeat in the final of the Premiership Cup Final to Sale Sharks.

Gustard, who joined Harlequins in 2018 after previously working under Eddie Jones with England, has now left The Stoop during his third season in charge and Quins says he has left with immediate effect to "enable him to pursue other opportunities".

For the remainder of the current season, Billy Millard, general manager of Rugby, will oversee the existing experienced coaching team of Jerry Flannery, Nick Evans and Adam Jones.

Millard has overseen management of the coaching team and all of our rugby operations since joining Harlequins in 2018.

A statement from Harlequins said: “Harlequins confirms that Head of Rugby, Paul Gustard, will leave the Club.

“Having reached this decision it has been mutually agreed between Paul and the Club that he will leave with immediate effect to enable him to pursue other opportunities.

“Paul, who joined the Club in the summer of 2018, has overseen a major transformation of the playing squad and departs with Harlequins competing for the second consecutive year in the Heineken Champions Cup.

“Having narrowly missed out on qualification for the playoffs of the Gallagher Premiership in his first season, Harlequins has continued to develop over the last two years.

“The Club finished sixth in the interrupted 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership campaign and it reached the Premiership Cup final, narrowly losing to Sale Sharks in the COVID-19 delayed match.

“The Club thanks Paul for his tireless energy and commitment over the last two and a half years. His passion and drive to succeed have been evident throughout his time at the Club. Everyone at Harlequins wishes Paul and his family all the very best for the future.”

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