DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
ComeAllWithin (Harlequins Rugby)
HTML https://comeallwithin.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: ComeAllWithin Board
*****************************************************
#Post#: 157892--------------------------------------------------
Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: WellingQuin
Date: September 30, 2026, 10:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML https://www.quins.co.uk/article/gray-returns-ferguson-departs-and-jones-commits-to-the-stoop
Harlequins can today confirm that Joe Gray will return to the
Club on a full-time basis as Lead Rugby Transition Coach,
replacing Matt Ferguson, who departs to become Scrum and Contact
Skills Coach of the Red Roses.
The Club is also pleased to confirm that Adam Jones has signed a
contract extension to remain at The Stoop as Scrum and Contact
Coach.
Gray returns to The Stoop
Gray rejoins Harlequins full-time after becoming Head Coach of
London Scottish ahead of the 2022/23 season, following the
clubs’ strategic partnership, and was later promoted to Director
of Rugby. During his time at the Exiles, he continued to
contribute to the Harlequins programme and gained experience
with England Rugby.
As a player, the hooker made more than 170 appearances for
Harlequins and was the first player to win every domestic trophy
in English rugby. His playing career also took him to
Northampton Saints and Saracens, where he won three Gallagher
PREM titles.
Gray will succeed Ferguson in delivering the Club's transition
strategy for players aged 18-23, working with the Academy and
wider coaching group to bridge the gap to first team rugby. He
will transition into the role through the autumn, initially
combining the role with his London Scottish duties while the
Exiles recruit his successor.
On his appointment Gray said: “I’m really looking forward to
joining Harlequins as Lead Transition Coach. It’s an area I’m
hugely passionate about, and I’m excited to work with the next
generation of players and help them develop towards making an
impact at first team level.
“Harlequins is a club that means a huge amount to me, so to have
the opportunity to come back in this role and play a part in the
growth of the next group of players is something I’m really
looking forward to.”
Ferguson departs for the Red Roses
Ferguson joins the Red Roses as Scrum and Contact Skills Coach
from 01 October ahead of the second block of WXV fixtures, a
return to a team whose forwards he coached for three years
before joining Northampton Saints in 2018.
He joined Harlequins in August 2025, and in his role as Lead
Rugby Transition Coach, 12 Academy graduates made their PREM
debuts throughout the 2025/26 campaign. Ferguson will return to
Quins part-time in the autumn to help with the handover to Gray.
The Club would like to place on record its thanks to Ferguson
for his work and commitment and wishes him every success in the
next chapter of his career.
"Leaving Harlequins wasn't easy,” said Ferguson. “I'm incredibly
proud of what we've built in the transition space and seeing
Academy players step up to first team rugby has been hugely
rewarding. There is a lot of emerging talent for Quins
supporters to get excited about. I have been very impressed by
the way Gilly (Jason Gilmore), and his coaching team have set
the Club up for success, and I'm excited to see their progress.
“The chance to coach the Red Roses and get stuck into the
upcoming WXV tournament was too good to turn down - Test
opportunities don't come round often, and it also means more
time with my family. I'm grateful to everyone at the Club for my
time here, and I'm looking forward to aiding the handover
process in the autumn with Joe.”
Jones commits his future to Harlequins
Jones' new deal underlines the Club's recognition of the
Welshman as one of the most respected scrum specialists in the
game. The former Wales prop joined Harlequins as a player in
2015, before moving into coaching in 2018 and has been a fixture
of the coaching room since.
His reputation extends throughout the rugby world. Jones enjoyed
an illustrious playing career at Neath, Ospreys, Cardiff Blues
and Harlequins as well as winning 95 caps for Wales, three Six
Nations Grand Slams, and was capped five times by the British &
Irish Lions across the 2009 and 2013 tours. In 2025, Jones
joined Wales coaching team for the Six Nations on secondment
from Harlequins to gain valuable international experience.
Alongside his scrum responsibilities, Jones will continue to
work closely with Forwards Coach Rob Hunter on the development
of the squad’s contact area skills.
On his renewal, Jones added: "I'm really pleased to be extending
my time at Harlequins. This Club has been a huge part of my life
since I first came here as a player in 2015, and it's been a
natural home for my coaching career since. The Club has built a
strong group of coaches this summer, we're always learning from
each other, testing and pushing one another to be the best we
can be.
“There is also an exciting group of forwards and front rowers
coming through at the Club, and I'm looking forward to being
part of their progress as we continue building towards future
success for Harlequins."
Head Coach Jason Gilmore said: “I’m delighted to welcome Joe
back to The Stoop on a full-time basis. He knows this Club
inside out, both as a player and as a coach, and the experience
he's gained at London Scottish will be invaluable as we continue
to develop our transition group. Joe understands what it takes
to bridge the gap between the Academy and first team rugby, and
he's the right person to build on the strong foundations in that
area.
"I'd like to thank Ferg (Matt Ferguson) for all he's given
Harlequins this past year. He's led the transition area really
well, to see a high number of Academy graduates make their PREM
debuts last season and continue to push on this season is
testament to his work. We wish him every success with the Red
Roses, and we're grateful that he'll be on hand to help with the
handover to Joe.
"I'm also really pleased that Bomb (Adam Jones) has committed
his future to the Club. He is one of the most respected scrum
coaches in the game, and I believe we are seeing the best of him
as a coach in our current environment. He and Rob Hunter work
very well together on the set-piece and contact area too, and
I'm looking forward to seeing that continue to develop.”
#Post#: 157895--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: sussexquin
Date: September 30, 2026, 11:51 am
---------------------------------------------------------
He kept a poker face when I asked if he was moonlighting from
the Stoop when I saw him at the Roses game last Saturday. Just
scoping out the new job I suppose..
#Post#: 157896--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: September 30, 2026, 12:05 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Shame about Ferguson. He spoke impressively at the last state of
play. He waa the only one at the time I had much faith in.
As for joe, im not sure really. Great player but his time with
Scottish was hardly a success. Different roles though i know.
On jones, top bloke, but our scrum has got considerably worse.
We've lost some key players. He needs to show he can work the
magic we always hear about with the current lot.
#Post#: 157897--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: September 30, 2026, 12:44 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: T-Bone link ---
>
> Shame about Ferguson. He spoke impressively at the last state
of play. He waa the only one at the time I had much faith in.
>
> As for joe, im not sure really. Great player but his time with
Scottish was hardly a success. Different roles though i know.
>
> On jones, top bloke, but our scrum has got considerably worse.
We've lost some key players. He needs to show he can work the
magic we always hear about with the current lot.
>
--- End Quote ---
We do have two Argentinian internationals, one of whom is
managing to hold the scrum up without dominating and other of
whom is not doing well. Add to that Titi and Harry Williams who
we recruited expecting them to the job and they're not managing
it, and I do have to ask whether Jones is really managing as
well as he used to.
#Post#: 157898--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: J Scott
Date: September 30, 2026, 1:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Shame about Ferguson I thought he might replace Bomb if he left.
Happy Bomb has re-signed however would it have been worth a shot
on Ferguson as our scrum coach seem to recall Saints pack wasn’t
too shabby.
I really don’t get Grays appointment two crap seasons with LS
which led to relegation and a couple of thumpings in Nat1
already. He hardly got the best out of our players that were
loaned to LS. Stinks of a convenient signing on a low budget.
Not only that but he’ll split his duties between us and
Scottish. Disappointing addition.
#Post#: 157899--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: September 30, 2026, 2:04 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> We do have two Argentinian internationals, one of whom is
managing to hold the scrum up without dominating and other of
whom is not doing well. Add to that Titi and Harry Williams who
we recruited expecting them to the job and they're not managing
it, and I do have to ask whether Jones is really managing as
well as he used to.
>
--- End Quote ---
Argentina haven’t really had a dominant scrum for a number of
years, Titi and Williams were a risk, and have turned out to be
bad signings.
Baxter has come along very well, as has Hobson, so Bomb still
seems to be able to develop players with high potential very
quickly.
#Post#: 157902--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: Quinky
Date: September 30, 2026, 2:17 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I'd echo that Jones has done great work with Hobson, and also
Streeter and Gorleku. All three have impressed, particularly
Hobson. And of course Williams, Carr, Schmid etc. We have a
great crop of young forwards.
However, I thought he was already on a non fixed term contract?
#Post#: 157905--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: September 30, 2026, 3:09 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Always thought something was a bit off about Ferguson when he
was at saints, purely based on his mid match interviews, ie
basically nothing except vague vibes. So it's not like my
natural inclination is to think the world of him, unfair as that
might be.
But having said that, the club were making a big deal out of him
joining us and it's clear they were really expecting a lot, so
this must be a major set back for our planning. Two seasons in a
row a key member of staff disappears at the start of the season.
Dreadful stuff.
Joe isn't a total newbie at least but I dunno if you'd call him
a success at Scottish. Other people are far better paced to
comment on that I guess. Adam Jones has as many failures as
successes under his belt and our scrum has been bad for years so
I'm not going to make out I'm thrilled by his news either.
Especially given how many international props have turned up at
the club and disappointed.
#Post#: 157906--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: dawson9
Date: September 30, 2026, 3:21 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
>
>
> Joe isn't a total newbie at least but I dunno if you'd call
him a success at Scottish. Other people are far better paced to
comment on that I guess.
>
--- End Quote ---
As a scottish fan, it would be bizarre to call him a success.
Head coach in a season we got relegated and played some truly
awful rugby - somehow that ended up with a promotion to DoR
this season where we've started even worse (joint bottom after 4
games and already looking like we are in another relegation
battle) He seems a really nice guy, and speaks a good game -
but absolutely havent seen any discernible improvement on the
pitch since he joined, quite the opposite.
#Post#: 157908--------------------------------------------------
Re: Gray Returns, Ferguson Departs & Jones Commits
DIR By: FatQuin
Date: October 1, 2026, 1:09 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Not sure why Gray gets a job but, despite making a good
impression at the State of Play thing, seems Ferguson wanted
out. He was rumoured to be leaving months ago (Glaws was it?)
so clearly wasn’t happy.
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 4
DIR Next Page