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#Post#: 156214--------------------------------------------------
Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: July 7, 2026, 7:27 am
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HTML https://www.quins.co.uk/article/chandra-and-bowman-join-senior-academy
Very interesting pair of signings.
Have no view on them as players, but does suggest the higher ups
(maybe even the RFU) are looking much further afield for English
qualified talent.
#Post#: 156216--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: Camquin
Date: July 7, 2026, 8:20 am
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As I said on another thread, is there something wrong with
player development in England.
I am sure these two have the potential to be great players for
Quins, and potentially England - but surely we should be able to
fill the ranks with players coming through the junior academy.
I actually think Quins are one of the better English sides at
developing talent - but I think this goes wider.
Will the powers that be do anything, probably not.
#Post#: 156217--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: never sleep
Date: July 7, 2026, 8:51 am
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I think that for scrum half, we do have a bit of a gap.
Basically we have:
Will Porter + Stuart Townsend + Lucas Friday; and Max Rawlinson
in the academy.
We are definitely a bit light and would struggle with the Prem
Cup.
So, we have a need in this position.
I guess the options are - BUCS or look at other teams academy
players.
These guys are probably even better as they are English
qualified, experienced and will count as academy credits, and
they may even be good value.
Basically win, win, win.
Marley Chandra is an odd one though. I didn't think that we were
particularly short in the 2nd row / back row.
#Post#: 156221--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: mrpj1985
Date: July 7, 2026, 9:25 am
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--- Quote from: never sleep link ---
>
> I think that for scrum half, we do have a bit of a gap.
>
> Basically we have:
> Will Porter + Stuart Townsend + Lucas Friday; and Max
Rawlinson in the academy.
> We are definitely a bit light and would struggle with the Prem
Cup.
>
> So, we have a need in this position.
> I guess the options are - BUCS or look at other teams academy
players.
> These guys are probably even better as they are English
qualified, experienced and will count as academy credits, and
they may even be good value.
> Basically win, win, win.
>
> Marley Chandra is an odd one though. I didn't think that we
were particularly short in the 2nd row / back row.
>
--- End Quote ---
I thought this too with scrum half (assuming Friday goes full
time with the Seniors, as he should.) Might have been too good
an opportunity to miss with Chandra, will have to hold judgement
until we see him play.
#Post#: 156222--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: July 7, 2026, 9:27 am
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I would argue the motive behind Marley Chandra is even more
obvious - a thinly-veiled attempt to address more of a general
need for brute physicality in the English game? History tells us
that Pacific Islanders have often been genetically gifted, after
all...
How many current England forwards would you be able to argue are
genuinely scary physical specimens? George Martin's return to
the test arena aside, I'd wager not nearly as many as other top
tier nations.
Quins have struggled in this regard, too. We need to be much
gnarlier in the pack before we start talking about DNA again.
So, without knowing anything about this kid, if that's the idea
behind it... then I'm behind it.
#Post#: 156223--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: honkytonk
Date: July 7, 2026, 9:43 am
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We should be scouting far and wide for promising youngsters.
Maybe a bit of sensible recruitment
#Post#: 156249--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: Scooter
Date: July 8, 2026, 5:36 am
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--- Quote from: mrpj1985 link ---
>
> ... (maybe even the RFU) are looking much further afield for
English qualified talent.
>
--- End Quote ---
There's plenty of great English qualified talent playing in
France. Especially in Toulouse and Bordeaux.
#Post#: 156258--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: July 8, 2026, 7:16 am
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He should have added the proviso "who want to play for England".
#Post#: 156291--------------------------------------------------
Re: Academy Signings from Oz
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: July 9, 2026, 3:31 am
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So, yet again, we carried out a world wide global search
and...oh.
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