Chisholm injecting 'Harlequins DNA' into exciting new recruits

Ross Chisholm is relishing the challenge of injecting the ‘Harlequins DNA’ into the club’s new arrivals as they prepare for a new Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby campaign.

Chisholm is a club legend at the Stoop following his storied career with the men’s side, which saw him make 128 appearances over 14 years with the Quarters before retiring at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

His transition into coaching has been a smooth one and having spent last season as attack and transition coach with the women’s squad, he has stepped into the head coach role this summer.

It has been a busy summer of comings and goings in south-west London and Chisholm has enjoyed getting stuck in.

✍️ Ross Chisholm has been appointed Head Coach of Harlequins Women, with Amy Turner moving into a new role as Men's Pathway Coach.

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— Harlequins Women 🃏 (@HarlequinsWomen) July 12, 2024

“It’s a real privilege and I’m extremely proud to take on the role,” he said.

“There are a lot of new players and it’s really important we build relationships. We are ensuring we are connecting as a team so we can go and perform.

“Quins is a club who have a real clear DNA across the whole club. We are really ensuring we are clear on what it looks like and how we want to bring that to life as a playing group in this first couple of weeks so that when the season starts, we are all clear on our vision and how we want to perform.

“We want to be remembered as brave, physical and entertaining. When people watch Quins, it’s high tempo, moving the ball and scoring tries.

“The shirt speaks for itself in some ways and my job is breaking it down and working out what that looks like for us as a group.”

Quins saw five influential players retire at the end of the season, with Shaunagh Brown, Rachel Burford, Emily Scott, Katy Mew and Georgia Gray deciding the time was right to hang up their boots.

A raft of arrivals have been tasked with hitting the ground running, including GB Sevens stars Grace Crompton and Kayleigh Powell, the latter’s Welsh international teammate Alex Callender and Red Roses forwards Lizzie Hanlon and Harriet Millar-Mills.

Spanish pair Claudia Pena Hidalgo and Laura Delgado add continental flair and it’s a mix which excites Quins’ new head coach.

“We had some stalwarts and legends of the game at Quins who departed, so there are some really big shoes to fill,” he said.

“It’s really important that we give time to connect with each other. That might be team building activities, space in team meetings to discuss things like that.

“We spend time getting to learn about each other and find out people’s ‘why’, in terms of why they play the game.

“That enables us to go on the pitch and implement what we are about. That has been a big focus in the last couple of weeks.”

The wait is over 🚨

Premiership Women's Rugby fixtures for 2024-25 are now out!

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Chisholm’s charges will get an early test of their mettle with a tantalising couple of opening fixtures, which have been announced today (Wednesday).

They open up against Exeter Chiefs, who finished fourth last season, before a visit from reigning champions Gloucester-Hartpury.

“Two home fixtures to kick us off and two great challenges,” added Chisholm, who is targeting a top four finish in his first season in the hotseat.

“You can’t deny those two teams have been fantastic. It’s brilliant to welcome them to the Stoop, it’s a great challenge for us and if you want to be up there and competing, you have to be able to compete with the best.

“We are really excited about it and hopefully the fans will massively get behind us at the Stoop.”