YOUNG GUNS
JACK DOOREY-PALMER HARLEQUINS HOOKER
Jack Doorey-Palmer is aiming high at Harlequins after receiving some special online tuition from England front row star Luke Cowan-Dickie.
The 18-year-old hooker joined the club at U15s level and has since progressed through to the elite academy squad.
Dorey-Palmer says having interaction with the first team in the club's inclusive Stoop environment is really helping his development and he is relishing every minute.
He said: “A couple months ago we trained in full with the first team and it was really good getting to know them.
We did individual bits, so I spoke to the hookers in great depth as they were all there; Jack Musk, Sam Riley, Jack Walker and George Head. They all make you feel really welcome, and while it was nerve wracking at first there's nothing to be nervous about when they're all as close as they are.”
Dorey-Palmer fell in love with the sport straightaway after joining Hastings & Bexhill RFC age six and quickly began idolising players from both rugby codes.
He said: “I went to The Stoop as a kid and have watched both union and league games there. When I was younger I loved league, so I looked up to Sam Burgess quite a bit. I liked the way he played, with his hard running and defence, as that's the strongest part of my game as well. It's great how he put shots in all around the park.”
During lockdown, Dorey-Palmer developed a close relationship with Exeter hooker Cowan-Dickie through playing Xbox together, and the British and Irish Lion has provided tips on his lineout throwing.
Dorey-Palmer added: “We played a lot of Xbox together over lockdown so I got quite close with him. He's given me lots of advice throwing wise – before then I taught myself how to throw and hadn't really had one on one coaching. He gives me little tips as I send over a few clips, and he feeds back.”
Dorey-Palmer spent last season playing in the Premiership U18s league, with his Quins side finishing fourth on finals day.
He said: “It was brilliant, the standard of rugby that everyone plays is so good because it gives you that Premiership knowledge with the way teams play.
“I've just loved every minute.”
Dorey-Palmer has aspirations to one day put on the British and Irish Lions jersey and hopes in the short-term to achieve his dream of progressing into the first team at the club he's supported his whole life.
He said: “Short-term goals for me would be to slot into the first team. I won't be making debuts yet, but I just want to improve my throwing and hit my targets and keep doing all the extras.
“My end goal is putting on the Lions top, I don't have any words to describe what that would feel like. Likewise playing for Quins, I would be just as speechless. It's mine and my dad's boyhood club, so the day I make my debut for Quins it would be a dream come true.”
