Harlequins' 2026-27 Gallagher Premiership Season Preview

In the 2026-27 season preview for Harlequins, fans expressed a strong desire for improvement following last season's disappointing ninth place finish. Since their title victory in 2021, the Twickenham-based team faced a steady decline, ending up among the bottom two last season. With the arrival of George Furbank, the title-winning captain from Northampton Saints, there is hope for change.

As the new season approaches on Friday, September 25, Rugby World is analyzing every team's prospects in the Gallagher Premiership (PREM) and United Rugby Championship (URC) ahead of the significant kick-off.

Last year, Harlequins were observed to have been treading water for several seasons but nearly sank. Head coach Danny Wilson departed weeks before the season commenced, leading to Jason Gilmore taking the helm as defensive head. The team soon found itself second from bottom, with a visibly dissatisfied fanbase shown by empty seats at The Stoop. However, with Furbank's signing, expectations are high for a fresh start.

Additional notable management changes include the hiring of attack coach Brad Cooper from the Super Rugby-winning Hurricanes. Unfortunately, the team will face challenges without captain Alex Dombrandt, who sustained an ACL injury and will miss a significant portion of the campaign. Despite struggles last season, the squad, featuring key players such as Marcus Smith, Cadan Murley, Chandler Cunningham-South, and Rodrigo Isgró, has the potential to compete for playoffs.

Gilmore commented, "Something I’ve picked up from last year is that if we’re on the front foot, we’re a good team; but on the back foot, I’d like to see us absorb pressure better."

The presence of a strong pack is crucial, and Fin Baxter's return from a foot injury will be significant for the team's performance in the 2026-27 season, having been awarded an enhanced EPS contract. Scrum-half Lucas Friday, who previously guided Harlequins to an unexpected victory in La Rochelle, is anticipated to play a more prominent role this season and is highly regarded by players such as Danny Care and Ben Youngs.

Harlequins has assembled a revamped management group over the last six months, now including Robbie Deans (performance director), Cooper, Jordan Turner-Hall (defence), Sean Long (skills), and Rob Hunter (forwards) alongside Gilmore, Adam Jones (scrum), and Matt Ferguson (transition).

Predictions suggest that while Harlequins may still linger in the lower half of the league, they are expected to perform better than last season, with Champions Cup qualification seen as a minimal target. Harlequins' odds for the season stand at 33-1. Notably, the previous season marked the first time Harlequins finished in the bottom two since their relegation in the 2004-05 season.

Harlequins Signings

• George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
• James Dun (Bristol Bears)
• Sampie Swiegers (Pumas)
• Harry Johnson-Holmes (Western Force)

Harlequins Departures

• George Turner (Newcastle Red Bulls)
• Joe Launchbury (retired)
• Stephan Lewies (Sharks)
• Jarrod Evans (Cardiff)
• Jamie Benson (Ulster)
• Jack Poorey-Palmer (Tigers)
• Joe Jones (Worcester Warriors)
• Jake Murray (Exeter Chiefs)
• Max Green (Oundle)
• Hayden Hyde (Ealing)
• Tom Lawday (released)
• Cameron Doak (released)