Harlequins Rugby Club has undergone a significant shake-up in its coaching staff and operational strategy, aiming to transform its performance and player development for the upcoming season. The club has brought in Brad Cooper as attack coach, who previously worked with the Hurricanes in New Zealand and coached Ruben Love, the emerging All Blacks fly-half. Cooper has set an ambitious goal for England international Marcus Smith, aiming to make him the number one fly-half for England and a dominant force in the World Cup.
Cooper met with Smith and skills coach Sean Long before the pre-season began, outlining plans to refine the team's attacking approach. Cooper noted the similarities between Smith and Love, highlighting their dedication to self-improvement. "Marcus and Ruben are very similar," Cooper stated. "They both take responsibility for their own development. Ruben is one of the first in the building at 6am and one of the last to leave. I’ve seen exactly the same traits with Marcus."
The new attack coach intends to move away from what he perceived as a "chasing points" mentality, where the team focused on immediate scoring opportunities after a line break. Instead, the emphasis will be on multi-phase play, patience, and structure, particularly within the opposition's 22-meter area, emulating successful teams like Toulouse and Bordeaux. "My goal is to help him achieve that potential and live that out. The way we play will really suit him. At times last year, I don’t think he really got that momentum at Quins to play on top of teams," Cooper explained.
Revamped Coaching and Team Building
Robbie Deans has joined as performance director, while Cooper, Jordan Turner-Hall, and Rob Hunter have been added to the coaching staff. This new team has prioritized unity, with one of their initial activities being a team-building weekend in Portsmouth. Turner-Hall, focusing on defense, described the initiative as crucial for integrating new members and fostering a shared vision.
"We did a bit of a team building trip to Portsmouth," said Turner-Hall. "We went for a swim, had a few beers and had some deep and honest chats. There are new coaches and a lot of new people coming in so it was good to steal some time together." The former player emphasized the importance of making everyone feel valued, regardless of their role. "People need to feel valued, whether you’re cooking food, doing analysis or whatever."
The club's previous season, 2025-26, concluded in ninth place, missing out on the Champions Cup. This underperformance was partly attributed to a fragmented coaching group and a lack of clear identity, as admitted by former attack coach Nick Evans. The new setup aims to consolidate the coaching team and ensure a unified approach.
Focus on Power and Player Development
Harlequins' game model will now center on being powerful, applying and withstanding pressure, and retaining possession. Turner-Hall highlighted that power is not just an on-field attribute but requires alignment across all departments, including strength and conditioning. "We need to be powerful, we need to apply pressure and withstand pressure better, and we need possession. We will judge ourselves on that," he stated.
The club acknowledges it is not the largest team and will tailor its approach accordingly, focusing on technique, speed, and breakdown efficiency to avoid penalties. The development of young talent is also a key focus. Cooper identified back-row player Seb Driscoll as a standout performer in pre-season, anticipating more game time for the youngster.
Strengthening the Academy and Facilities
Efforts are also underway to enhance the club's academy pathway. While Harlequins has produced talent, the club aims to provide better exposure and support to ensure young players are integrated effectively. "We want to have good support around their development and keep them involved," Turner-Hall said.
To support these ambitions, a new training facility is being developed at the Surrey Sports Park base, with a high-performance center and an additional pitch expected for next season. The club also faces challenges, including the long-term absence of influential No 8 Alex Dombrandt due to a knee injury, and a missed recruitment cycle due to late coaching changes. The addition of England full-back George Furbank from Northampton is seen as a significant boost. The success of these changes will be closely watched by an expectant fanbase.