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Harlequins Rugby League
Full name	Harlequins Rugby League Club
Nickname(s)	Quins , Quins RL, London
Emblem(s)	Harlequin
Founded	1980 (as part of Fulham FC)
Location	London, England
Ground	Twickenham Stoop
Capacity	12,700
CEO	Nic Cartwright
Coach	Brian McDermott
League	Superleague
2006	7th
Home colours		Away colours
Official website
www.quins.co.uk

Harlequins Rugby League is a rugby league club representing the greater London area. They are currently the premier rugby league side in London, and play in the Super League. They have since been joined in the professional ranks by the London Skolars in 2003. The capital also has a number of amateur teams, including London Griffins who are the team of Harlequins' supporters.

Until the end of the 2005 season they were known as London Broncos, playing their last game under that name on 23 September 2005 and changing their name officially on 17 October 2005. Their current name is also shortenend to Harlequins RL or Quins RL. They had also previously been gone by the names Fulham and London Crusaders in the past.

The club play at the Twickenham Stoop, home of the Harlequins rugby union club. They wear a home shirt very similar to the union club's famous multi-coloured quartered jersey (light blue, magenta, chocolate, French grey, black & light green)and is one of the most distinctive and famous strips in the rugby world. The away shirt for the 2007 season was voted for by fans and the winning design was a white shirt with blue, green and red elements on each sleeve and also both sides of the jersey. One of the other designs, which was predominantly black, was also made available and became the club's training shirt.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Previous rugby league clubs in London 1.2 Fulham 1.3 London Crusaders 1.4 London Broncos 1.5 Harlequins Rugby League 2 Previous kits 3 Honours 4 Coaching Staff 5 2008 Squad 6 Run-on Team 2008 7 2008 Transfers In & Out 8 2008 Fixtures/Results 9 Former players of note 10 Records 10.1 Individual player records 10.2 Team records 11 See also 12 External links

Professional rugby league was briefly represented in London in the 1930s by London Highfield (who played only one season), Acton & Willesden (also one season) and Streatham & Mitcham (one and a half seasons). All were ultimately driven out of business through poor finances.

Thereafter, the sport in England remained exclusively a northern game until June 1980, when Fulham Football Club announced the formation of a rugby league team, with the primary intention of creating another income stream for the soccer club. The Rugby Football League (RFL), keen to expand the sport beyond its traditional northern heartland, instantly accepted the new club and one of the game's leading players, Reg Bowden, was recruited to act as player-coach. Within weeks, Bowden had assembled a team of experienced players, together with a few youngsters. Nearly 10,000 curious fans turned up for the opening game at Craven Cottage, most of whom were watching their first ever live Rugby League match. The newly formed side surprisingly beat highly regarded Wigan 24-5. Fulham RL went on to win the Division Two Championship and secured promotion.

After the euphoria generated in their initial season, immediate relegation in 1981-82 was a sobering reality check and at the end of their fourth season continuing financial losses saw the plug pulled by the parent soccer club. However with the backing of supporters Roy and Barbara Close, and with an enthusiastic new coach Roy Lester, Fulham RL still had a future. Between 1984 and 1994 the club spent periods based at Crystal Palace (1984-5 and 1990-3) and Chiswick Polytechnic Sports Ground (1985-90). This decade was noted for its continued struggle both on and off the pitch, but the club still managed to keep its head just above water. They also played one-off games at places such as Harrow & Wealdstone and Chelsea F.C.'s ground Stamford Bridge in 1983. They also played matches at the home grounds of Brentford F.C. and semi professional football side Hendon F.C.

A 1991 name change to 'London Crusaders' coincided with an entertaining period on the pitch. The climax of this spell was a 1994 appearance in the Divisional Premiership Final under coach Tony Gordon.

The Crusaders moved from Crystal Palace to Barnet Copthall in 1993.

In the spring of 1994 it was announced that the Australian ARL side Brisbane Broncos was buying the club, which would be renamed 'London Broncos'.

In 1996, despite not playing in the top flight, the London Broncos were selected by the RFL to be part of the new Super League on the basis that it was essential for the sport to have a high profile representative in the capital. Tony Currie took up the role of Head Coach. The club moved to The Valley, the home ground of Charlton Athletic F.C.. The 1996 season brought the best attendances since the inaugural season at Craven Cottage. Tony Rea retired from playing at the end of the season to take up the Chief Executive role at the club.

After two years they moved once again, to the Harlequin rugby union club's Stoop Memorial Ground. Richard Branson's Virgin Group became majority shareholders, and the immediate future looked very bright. In 1997, after a remarkably good season they finished second in Super League. Highlights that year included victories at the Stoop over Canberra in the World Club Challenge and Bradford and Wigan in Super League.

In 1998, as part of rugby league's "on the road" scheme London Broncos played Bradford Bulls at Tynecastle in Edinburgh in front of over 7,000 fans. Success continued in 1998 with a first appearance in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, losing to Wigan. Head coach Tony Currie left the club at the end of the 1998 Super League season and was replaced by Dan Stains.

In 1999, the club went one better having its best cup run to date. Following a famous semi final victory over Castleford, the Broncos reached the Challenge Cup final at Wembley Stadium for the first time, but were defeated 52-16 by Leeds. The club sacked Stains after the Broncos endured a long losing streak during the Super League campaign. Tony Rea was appointed temporary joint head coach with Stains' assistant Les Kiss. Rea and Kiss managed to steer Broncos out of slump.

After a second brief spell back at The Valley, fervent supporter David Hughes purchased the majority shareholding from Virgin in a major restructuring of the club. In 2000, John Monie was appointed head coach. Monie only stayed in the job until the last month of the 2000 Super League season with the club endured a mediocre season during his tenure. Rea took over caretaker coach until the end of the season and Broncos sailed to mid-table security. Rea resigned his Chief Executive role at the end of the 2000 season to become head coach on a full-time basis.

In 2002, the Broncos moved back across London to play at Griffin Park as tenants of Brentford FC. 2003 marked the club's first Super League play off appearance, losing in the first round to St Helens 24-6 at Knowsley Road.

The 2005 season was marked by significant activity off the pitch as the club welcomed new chairman and majority shareholder Ian Lenagan who had bought up 65% of the shares. This was followed by the announcement of a partnership with Harlequin F.C. rugby union club that would see the side return to Twickenham Stoop as Harlequins RL for the 2006 season.

On 8th July 2006, after a disappointing run of form for the team, the Harlequins Rugby League club announced a re-organisation of the coaching set-up. Rea was replaced as head coach by Leeds Rhinos' assistant coach Brian McDermott, but was appointed to his current position on the club's board of directors.

The team completed its first season as Harlequins RL with 7th place in Super League XI. Although finishing strongly to avoid relegation, the run of 4 consecutive home defeats at the start of the season proved difficult to overcome.

The different incarnations of the club have each worn different kits. Fulham used an all black kit with white chevron and red trim. Under the Crusaders the kit used the same colours but in a variety of designs, but still mainly black and with the Broncos name they wore red, yellow and blue in a variety of styles, with red being the main colour for the last 5 years

• Super League: Runners-up 1997
• Rugby League Challenge Cup: Runners-up 1999
• Division Two Championship: 1982-83

• Brian McDermott - Head Coach
• Latham Tawhai - Assistant Coach
• Rob Powell - Coach
• Bill Peden - Strength and Conditioning
• Tony Rea - Director of Player Development (resigned and currently transitioning out of role pending a coaching opportunity elsewhere)

Number	Nationality	Player	Position	Previous Club
1		Mark McLinden	Full-back	Canberra Raiders
2		Jon Wells	Wing	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
3
4		David Howell	Centre	Canberra Raiders
5		Rikki Sheriffe	Wing	Doncaster Lakers
6		Scott Hill	Stand-off	Melbourne Storm
7		Danny Orr	Scrum-half	Wigan Warriors
8		Karl Temata	Prop	New Zealand Warriors
9		Chad Randall	Hooker	Manly Sea Eagles
10		Daniel Heckenberg	Prop	Manly Sea Eagles
11		Dwayne Barker	Second Row	Castleford Tigers
12		Henry Paul	Second Row	Gloucester RFC
13		Rob Purdham	Loose-forward	Whitehaven RLFC
14		Julien Rinaldi	Hooker	Catalans Dragons
15		Gareth Haggerty	Prop	Salford City Reds
16		Chris Melling	Full-back	Wigan Warriors
17		Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook	Prop	Harlequins RL
18		Matt Gafa	Second-row	Canberra Raiders
19		Tony Clubb	Centre	Harlequins RL
20		Jon Grayshon	Prop	Huddersfield Giants
21		David Tootill	Prop	Leeds Rhinos
22		Michael Worrincy	Prop	Harlequins RL
23		Danny Ward	Prop	Hull KR
24		Joe Mbu	Second-row	Doncaster Lakers
25		Zebastian Lucky Luisi	Full-back	Eastern Tornadoes
26		Joe Walsh	Second-row	Leeds Rhinos
27		Lamont Bryan	Centre	Harlequins RL
28		Will Sharp	Centre	Harlequins RL

Harlequins RL Run-on Team
8 9 10 11 12 13 7 6 4 3 5 2 1

Subs

• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23

Ins
Player	Previous Club
Gareth Haggerty	Salford City Reds
Danny Ward	Hull KR
Henry Fa'afili	Warrington Wolves (now Biarritz)
Dwayne Barker	Castleford Tigers
David Howell	Canberra Raiders

Outs
Player	Signed for
Paul Sykes	Bradford Bulls
David Mills	Hull KR
Tyrone Smith	CA Brumbies
Lee Hopkins	Retired
Andy Smith	Halifax
Steve Bannister	Salford City Reds

2008 Engage Super League

Rd	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Result (W/D/L)	Attendance
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
CCC4
8
9
10
11
12
*13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
ESL PO1
ESL PO2
ESL PO3	Loser of 1st vs 2nd		Winner of ESL PO2
ESL GF	Winner of 1st vs 2nd		Winner of SLPO3

*Round 13 played at Millennium Stadium,Cardiff.

***engage Super League Grand Final to be played at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Richie Barnett Luke Dorn Jim Dymock Shaun Edwards Abi Ekoku Lee Hopkins David Brooks

Peter Gill Solomon Haumono John Gallagher Thomas Leuluai Feleti Mateo Paul Sykes

Denis Moran Tony Martin Terry Matterson Hussein M'Barki Shane Millard Tulsen Tollett

Martin Offiah Bill Peden Tony Rea Steele Retchless Steve Rosolen Danny Williams

• Most tries in a game: 5 by Martin Offiah vs Whitehaven, 14th March 1999
• Most tries in a season (any competition): 43 by Mark Johnson, 1993-94
• Most tries in a season (Super League): 24 by Denis Moran, 2003
• Most career tries (any competition): 86 by Scott Roskell, 1992-97
• Most career tries (Super League): 74 by Denis Moran, 2001-04
• Most goals in a game (any competition): 13 by Rob Purdham vs Barrow Raiders, 20th May 2006
• Most goals in a game (Super League): 12 by Paul Sykes vs Wakefield Trinity, 27th February 2005
• Most goals in a season (any competition): 159 by John Gallagher, 1993-94
• Most goals in a season (Super League): 120 by Paul Sykes, 2005
• Most career goals (any competition): 309 by Steve Diamond, 1981-84
• Most career goals (Super League): 229 by Paul Sykes, 2001-06
• Most points in a game (any competition): 34 by Rob Purdham vs Barrow Raiders, 20th May 2006
• Most points in a game (Super League): 28 by Greg Barwick vs Castleford Tigers, 25th August 1996
• Most Points in a season (any competition): 384 by John Gallagher, 1993-94
• Most Points in a season (Super League): 290 by Paul Sykes, 2005
• Most career points (any competition): 691 by Steve Diamond, 1981-84
• Most career points (Super League): 573 by Paul Sykes, 2001-06
• Most career appearances: 202 by Steele Retchless, 1998-04
• Most tackles made in any Super League Match: 66 by Steele Retchless (against Bradford in 1998. This is an all-time Super League record).

• Largest attendance (Challenge Cup): 15,013 vs Wakefield Trinity at Craven Cottage on 15th February 1981
• Largest attendance (Super League): 9,638 vs Paris St. Germain at The Valley on 4th April 1996
• Biggest victory (any competition): 82-0 vs Highfield (in Regal Trophy) on 12th November 1995
• Biggest victory (Challenge Cup): 82-8 vs Barrow Raiders on 20th May 2006
• Biggest victory (Super League): 72-8 vs Wakefield on 27th February 2005

• Harlequin F.C.
• Sport in London

• Official website
• Send In The Clowns fans website
• BBC London interactive site featuring live game commentary, the Thursday night magazine show and interviews.
• New chairman plus ground share with Quins
• Partnership with Quins, including name change - accessed from BBC on 26 July 2005

v • d • e Super League (Europe)
Bradford Bulls | Catalans Dragons | Castleford Tigers Harlequins Rugby League | Huddersfield Giants | Hull FC | Hull Kingston Rovers | Leeds Rhinos | St Helens RFC | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | Warrington Wolves | Wigan Warriors

v • d • e Rugby league in Britain and Ireland
Competitions	Super League · National League · Challenge Cup · National League Cup · National Conference League · CMS Yorkshire league · North West Counties · Pennine League · Cumberland League · Hull & District League · Barrow & District League · Rugby League Conference · Midlands Merit League · London League
National teams	Great Britain · England · Ireland · Scotland · Wales
Federations	RFL · BARLA · Rugby League Ireland · Wales Rugby League · Scotland Rugby League
Former competitions	Championship · Premiership · Lancs/Yorks Cups · Lancs/Yorks League Regal Trophy · Charity Shield · BBC2 Floodlit Trophy