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#Post#: 157038--------------------------------------------------
Where are they now?
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: August 18, 2026, 4:20 am
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Former Harlequins and Ireland U20s star goes Dutch
Francisco Isaac
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 20: Niall Saunders of Harlequins A
makes a break during the Premiership Rugby Shield match between
Harlequins A and Bath United at Twickenham Stoop on January 20,
2020 in London, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images
for Harlequins)
Dutch side RC The Dukes has clinched Niall Saunders’ services,
with the former U20 Irish international joining the side for the
upcoming Ereklasse s
The 28-year-old had been without a club for the past 20 months
after his contract with RFC Los Angeles was terminated ahead of
the 2025 season.
Saunders’ life in the pro leagues started in 2016, when
Harlequins recruited the young scrum-half. In the same year, he
won his first Ireland caps, representing the U20 side at the
World Rugby Under-20 Championship, where Ireland reached the
final but were defeated 45-21 by England.
He made his official debut for the London club in 2017, coming
off the bench to help defeat Worcester in round 2 of the
Anglo-Welsh Cup, and would go on to play 21 games for the club
before his departure in 2020.
At the time, the then-22-year-old backline operator announced
his retirement from the game to prioritise his mental health.
After a 12-month break, Saunders made a successful return,
joining the Utah Warriors for the 2022 MLR season and scoring
three tries in his first experience in the United States of
America.
Following the sale and relocation of the Atlanta club to Los
Angeles, Saunders remained with the franchise.
As the consortium held the rights to both franchises, Saunders
saw out the remainder of the 2023 season with Tel Aviv Heat
before making a permanent move to RFC Los Angeles ahead of the
2024 Major League Rugby campaign.
Despite his experience, Saunders’ contract was terminated in
2024, and he had to wait until August 2025 to enjoy a bit of
rugby when he joined the second team of Piacenza Rugby on a
one-year deal.
As RC The Dukes pursue their first Ereklasse title since 2008,
the club is making a serious push ahead of the new season, with
Niall Saunders the first of several signings expected to be
announced in the coming weeks.
The 2026/2027 season of the Ereklasse is expected to begin in
September.
#Post#: 157039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Where are they now?
DIR By: Quinky
Date: August 18, 2026, 6:40 am
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Rugby has certainly given him an interesting life.
Best of luck to him.
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