The most promising new players for the next rugby season in West London
The last few years have been rough for the West London rugby teams. During the 2022-23 season, London Irish were forced into administration due to unpaid taxes and an inability to provide proof that they could continue to pay staff and players. In October 2024, plans for a consortium to buy the team were announced.
Similarly, Wasps entered administration in October 2022. They were able to exit administration by December 2022, but they haven’t been able to resume playing. The club’s owners currently have plans to move the team to Kent or Worcester. They hope to rejoin Premiership Rugby for the 2025/26 season.
This has left Harlequins as the last team standing in West London. The team has had its share of challenges over the years, which is not surprising for a team that’s been around since 1866! Apart from the 2021-22 season when they finished third, Harlequins have hovered near the middle of the table.
While there’s only one West London team left, it doesn’t limit the excitement of betting on Premiership Rugby. Football remains the most popular betting sport but betting on rugby is close behind, especially during international tournaments like the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup.
A betting guide like talksport.com provides links to reputable online sportsbooks as well as articles about transfers, player health, team stats and game recaps. If you’re new to betting or want to develop your betting knowledge, these types of guides are helpful tools.
One of the factors that bettors and pundits alike are always trying to figure out is how a new player will fit into the club. Will the energy of youth give the club the oomph they need to win or will a clash of egos and inexperience cause too much tension for success? Will a player who has been successful under one coach be just as effective with a new coaching style?
This article will look at some of the promising new players who have signed with Harlequins this season. Maybe with these new players Harlequins will have what it takes to make it back to the top of the league table once again.
Titi Lamositele
Titi Lamositele isn’t a new face on the field as he spent the first years of his career playing for Saracens and followed it up with an impressive stint at Montpellier. The 29-year-old American-Samoan player has also had an impressive international career, playing first for the United States and then for Samoa since 2023.
Lamositele is a tighthead prop and a powerful player. Billy Millard, Director of Rugby for the club, has previously coached Lamositele, so there is an existing relationship and understanding between the two. That relationship suggests that Millard already has ideas for how Lamositele can fit into and improve the current lineup.
Leigh Halfpenny
Leigh Halfpenny is another familiar face. He has been a key player on the Welsh international squad for the last decade. He has spent most of his career playing for Cardiff, Toulon and the Scarlets. At 35 years old, he is nearing the end of his playing years.
He joined the Harlequins in September, alongside fellow Welsh player Wyn Jones, and as a fullback he scored a try in his first appearance. While it’s impossible to ignore the fact that he’s getting older, he brings something special to the squad. Halfpenny’s confidence and ability to put points on the board even under pressure is a good example for the younger members of the squad.
Nathan Jibulu
Nathan Jibulu is a young player with a lot of heart who has been playing with Harlequins Senior Academy since 2021. In 2022, he made the jump to the main squad and has spent the last two seasons out on loan. He played with Esher RFC in 2022-23 and London Scottish 2023-2024. Throughout the loan period, he also occasionally appeared for Harlequins.
The 21-year-old hooker has been an exciting prospect to watch. He has a degree of humility not usually seen in young players with his talent. Unfortunately for Harlequins, it looks like he won’t be with the team much longer. Transfer rumours suggest that he’ll be leaving West London once his contract expires, possibly headed to Sale Sharks.
Bryn Bradley
Bryn Bradley also spent his first senior years on loan to the London Scottish. He began playing with Harlequins Academy in 2017. He plays at centre though he debuted against Nottingham at outside centre.
It’s Bradley’s international play that is catching people’s attention. He played on the Wales U20 squad in the 2023 World Rugby U20 Championship. He was one of three players to score a try in the final five minutes of their match against Japan. Being able to perform under pressure like that is a good sign for his future career.
When you consider this performance alongside his stats from his appearances for Harlequins, it’s obvious that Bradley has stamina. That stamina is important, especially for young players looking to prove themselves.
Cassius Cleaves
Cassius Cleaves has just signed a new contract and seems likely to stay with the club for the long term. He’s already spent a decade in the Academy and playing for Harlequins. At only 21 years old, that’s an impressive level of dedication. This is fantastic news for the club.
Cleaves is a wing who has gone from strength to strength despite a bad injury. He scored two tries in his debut match, which is a good indication of what he will bring to the club. He is one of the fastest players in the club and that speed is a necessary asset that is lacking in some other parts of the line. Cleaves has been described by some pundits as the team’s starlet. As long as that press doesn’t go to his head too much, he should be an essential part of the team.
