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#Post#: 16142--------------------------------------------------
Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: February 1, 2019, 9:05 am
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Link
HTML https://www.quins.london/news/saunders-signs-a-new-contract-with-harlequins/
SAUNDERS SIGNS A NEW CONTRACT WITH HARLEQUINS
Friday, 1st February 2019 @ 15:00
SCRUM-HALF HAS LEARNED FROM LEGEND DANNY CARE AND NOW WANTS TO
EMULATE HIS SUCCESS AT THE CLUB
Harlequins is pleased to confirm that Niall Saunders has signed
a new contract with the Club.
The 21-year-old Scrum-half, who played for Harlequins U18s and
has been a key part of the Academy for the past two seasons, has
featured in the first team several times this season as
Harlequins have enjoyed an excellent start, rising to third in
the Gallagher Premiership and reaching the quarter-finals of the
Challenge Cup.
Saunders, a product of Epsom College and Cobham RFC, has
represented Ireland at U18, U19 and U20 levels, following in his
father Rob’s footsteps who captained and played Scrum-half for
Ireland.
Saunders has been fortunate to have trained under the eye of
Club legend Danny Care for the past couple of seasons and Head
of Rugby Paul Gustard said that the young Scrum-half has an
excellent future at the Club.
“Niall is a brilliant competitor and his willingness to learn
and improve his game makes him a great re-signing for us," said
Gustard. "He has shown the desperation and perseverance in his
life - never mind his career - to demonstrate how much excelling
at rugby means to him.
“He has been side-lined with a few injuries this year which has
been frustrating but I was very excited about Niall in
pre-season with his approach to training and his competitive
desire.
“He has a cannon of a left foot, a lightning pass and is
exceptionally quick. He has the raw ingredients to become a very
good player for us and I am sure we will see this growth happen
quickly as he is very coachable.
“He, of course, comes from good stock being son of Rob Saunders
and clearly has plenty of his father’s competitiveness.
“Niall is a great presence and personality to have around the
squad and he has contributed well to the momentum we are
building at the Club right now. I am really pleased Niall sees
his future with us and I am confident in our coaching staff and
training programme that we can maximise his precocious talent
and help him fulfil his potential and his ambition.”
Saunders said: “I have learned so much through training and
playing for the first team here at Harlequins and I am thrilled
to be re-signing with the Club.
“There is such a positive attitude running through the whole
organisation right now and we are incredibly ambitious with a
desire to bring trophies to the Club. It is a great place to be
and I am very excited about the future here at The Stoop.”
#Post#: 16147--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Dittonquin
Date: February 1, 2019, 9:11 am
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Every time I come here thinking I might be able to break the
news Fred has got here first! :D
#Post#: 16148--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Everyone’s a Quinner
Date: February 1, 2019, 9:16 am
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So pleased with this. Big one for the future hopefully. He
really suits our attacking style play.
#Post#: 16150--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Tonbridge Quin
Date: February 1, 2019, 9:26 am
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We've a real solid core of players to build around now. Just
some news on a few outside signings now please
#Post#: 16152--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: February 1, 2019, 9:41 am
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Happy with this. Mind you, Care will be a huge loss when he
retires. None of our other 9s come close.
#Post#: 16159--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: February 1, 2019, 10:16 am
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--- Quote from: Quinten Poulsen link ---
>
> Happy with this. Mind you, Care will be a huge loss when he
retires. None of our other 9s come close.
>
--- End Quote ---
...yet. Saunders definitely has a similar sniping/ quick-footed
verve about his play. Maybe not the all-court footballing
ability and vision yet. Care is the fulcrum of our play and has
been for quite some time but he does have weaknesses and can go
missing for large parts of or even whole games when things
aren't quite going his way. Just like any 9 really. Scrum half
does feel like one position on a rugby field where you can have
really differing styles of player fighting for the shirt.
Saunders is definitely in the Care mould. Waters looks like more
of your classic 9 - and is also absolutely rapid. I have a
feeling we'll be okay with those two developing under Danny's
tutorship the next couple of years...
#Post#: 16162--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Quinky
Date: February 1, 2019, 10:52 am
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Good news. But no mention of "fun"? :)
#Post#: 16163--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: February 1, 2019, 10:53 am
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Good stuff. I'd like to see more of him and waters next season
#Post#: 16167--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: Quinten Poulsen
Date: February 1, 2019, 11:00 am
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--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> ...yet. Saunders definitely has a similar sniping/
quick-footed verve about his play. Maybe not the all-court
footballing ability and vision yet. Care is the fulcrum of our
play and has been for quite some time but he does have
weaknesses and can go missing for large parts of or even whole
games when things aren't quite going his way. Just like any 9
really. Scrum half does feel like one position on a rugby field
where you can have really differing styles of player fighting
for the shirt. Saunders is definitely in the Care mould. Waters
looks like more of your classic 9 - and is also absolutely
rapid. I have a feeling we'll be okay with those two developing
under Danny's tutorship the next couple of years...
>
--- End Quote ---
Yes but Care is in a league of his own when it comes to game
management and dictating play.
#Post#: 16170--------------------------------------------------
Re: Saunders makes 12
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: February 1, 2019, 11:21 am
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--- Quote from: Quinten Poulsen link ---
>
> Yes but Care is in a league of his own when it comes to game
management and dictating play.
>
--- End Quote ---
Just to be a pedant - because I can... Game management I'm
really not so sure. There are 9s who are well out in front of
him in terms of controlled, pragmatic stuff - as examples, Conor
Murray and many of the Welsh 9s are more refined in that way.
Dictating play, however, you're bang on imo - DC is one of the
best there is. For that electric spark out of nowhere I wouldn't
want anyone else (bar maybe Faf this season).
I guess I'm saying that with every player there's a bit of
compromise - none are ever truly great at everything. With Care
you get a hell of a lot of brilliance, and he mixes in some
brainfarts and periods of less assuredness just to keep things
interesting.
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