Former Harlequins wing Nathan Earle believes his old club are paying the price for failing to put foundations in place after their Premiership title triumph five years ago.
Earle, 31, now playing for Tonbridge Juddians in National One, still keeps close tabs on events at The Stoop and remains in regular contact with several of his former team-mates.
While he admits it is tough watching the club he represented 38 times between 2018-21 struggle, Earle believes their current position of ninth is the result of deeper structural issues rather than a simple dip in form.
Earle, below, told The Rugby Paper that Quins face some difficult decisions if they are to return to the top of the English game.
Quins missed a trick
He said: “I’m still close with a few of the lads there and I think we’re all kind of in agreement that the right building blocks weren’t put in place at the most crucial times.
“Because of that, what you’re seeing now is the result. I think they missed a trick early on after winning the league, and they’ve basically been playing catch-up ever since.”
Player-led following Paul Gustard’s departure as director of rugby mid-season in 2021, Harlequins lifted the Prem title with one of the most exciting attacking teams the competition had seen, but have failed to build on that success.
“They’re well behind where they should be considering the quality of player they have,” Earle said. “At the moment, they seem a little directionless.
“I hope they sort things out because I love the club. It’s probably the place I enjoyed playing rugby the most.
“I never like seeing them down because it’s a special place and it should be competing at the top.”
Hard going: Harlequins’ Tyrone Green is tackled during the defeat to Leicester Tigers in January. PICTURE: Getty Images
Shutting the England door
The team’s struggles inevitably have a knock-on effect for individuals hoping to break into the international picture, and Earle sees a breakdown in the formula that previously made Quins successful – a thriving academy pipeline supported by smart recruitment.
“There are a few boys there who should be pushing for England,” he said. “But when your team isn’t performing, it becomes difficult to justify those selections. That’s just the reality of it.”
He added: “If you look back at Quins historically, they’ve always had a really strong academy. They’d bring through young players and then recruit well around them.
“That balance between developing academy players and adding the right experience was a big part of their success.
“At the moment, there seems to be a bit of a disconnect there.”
Lack of stability
But Earle also blames instability within the coaching structure, saying: “They’ve almost been operating like a football club with the coaching situation.
“It’s been a bit of a merry-go-round of head coaches and there’s been a huge number of coaches involved. Sometimes it becomes a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth.”
Earle insists there is enormous potential within the club and that Quins remain one of English rugby’s “sleeping giants”.
“I think it’s similar to somewhere like Manchester United in that sense,” said Earle.
“The potential is huge, but to get back to where they should be, there are going to have to be some really tough decisions made.
“It depends whether the club is ready to make those decisions or not. If they don’t, then you’re probably going to stay in that cycle of up and down, up and down.”
Quins lost 34-7 against Leicester at Welford Road in the last Prem match before the international break and resume action at home to fellow strugglers Gloucester on Saturday.
“Where Quins should be is consistently in the top four, playing the best attacking rugby in the country, getting to semi-finals, getting to finals and competing for trophies.
“That’s the level the club should be at – right now they’re not even close.”
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