Director of Rugby Alan Solomons spoke to the media ahead of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at Harlequins.
Here’s what Alan had to say:
On this week’s signings and renewals
- Jono Kitto will add huge value to the Club. He is a good lad and has a good rugby pedigree. Like most New Zealand scrum-halves he gives accurate service and reads the game well.
- Ryan Bower is a good player and a fantastic bloke. You want good people in your squad and it’s great news he is extending his stay with us.
- Tom Howe had his best game on Friday and is a top finisher. He is a good young winger with pace to burn who has had some notable performances this season.
On facing Harlequins
- The level of competition in the Premiership this season is incredible. Apart from Exeter and Saracens who are a little bit apart there is not much between Harlequins in third and the rest.
- Paul Gustard has done a terrific job as Harlequins’ Director of Rugby. He is known as a defence coach and Harlequins have defended well this season.
- They will also be able to select Mike Brown, Chris Robshaw and Danny Care who have not been playing for England.
- We play them in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals at the end of March but our focus is on this week which is the start of a block of four Premiership games.
Josh Adams’ availability
- Josh is available to play for us this weekend as it is a fallow week in the Six Nations. We gave Josh 48 hours to recover from Wales’ win in Italy but he trained fully today.
Injuries
- Francois Hougaard, Bryce Heem and Nick Schonert are all fit and have trained fully this week.
- Michael Fatialofa has practised this week and is fine.
- Jono Lance has practised this week but is probably another week away.
- Jamie Shillcock is in a similar position to Jono Lance and is probably a week away although he has been training this week.
- Perry Humphreys is probably two to three weeks away.
- Niall Annett has a shoulder joint injury but we are hopeful it will not require surgery.