On Monday afternoon, an internal communication was sent out to all Harlequins’ staff revealing their worldwide search for a new coaching team was reaching its conclusion.
The club have spent months talking to the great and the good of rugby management.
Scott Robertson, Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt are among the Kiwi A-listers who have been approached by Quins but Daily Mail Sport understands the ugly departure of fellow New Zealander Tabai Matson in 2024 smeared the club’s reputation in his homeland.
Executives have met for coffees in southwest London with club legends such as Nick Easter – and held conversations with former employees such as Mark Mapletoft.
They have sounded out staff at rival clubs, such as Nick Kennedy of Saracens, and were pipped to the post for Chris Boyd, who opted to join Gloucester.
Following months of discussions, the club’s global headhunt has led them to a man who is already in the building. Jason Gilmore is now favourite to be appointed head coach, having taken up the role on an emergency basis when Danny Wilson walked out in the summer.
Jason Gilmore arrived as defence coach in 2024 and stepped up to take the role of interim head coach last summer when Danny Wilson departed
Results have been poor, yet Gilmore remains a popular figure with the players.
Rob Hunter, previously of Exeter, is set to join him as forwards coach, while Robbie Deans, who has spent the past decade in Japan, will take on a long-distance consultancy role.
Toby Booth will leave at the end of the season and it is likely Nick Evans will follow him out of the door. There will be further tweaks to the backroom performance staff but the overhaul could leave many fans feeling underwhelmed.
The club have been on the slide since winning the Premiership in 2021 and the churn of coaches has been constant. Keeping faith in Gilmore would provide some rare consistency but the fans had been teased by the prospect of landing one of the biggest hitters in the game.
The new coaching ticket must be backed to beef up the forward pack but recruitment has stalled.
Pumas tighthead prop Sampie Swiegers is a target for Quins ahead of next season
Most players have already made plans for next season, although South African prop Sampie Swiegers is on the club’s hitlist while a move for George Furbank is close to completion.
Fans are already threatening to cancel their season tickets – so it is imperative they make the right moves.
Their challenge for 2026 domestic titles is already dead but Marcus Smith has a chance to swing the bat in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
It feels like a make-or-break moment for the club’s board. If the next move does not turn around the club’s fortunes then their days could be numbered.
