Former Harlequins coach Mark Mapletoft has also been considered but former All Black fly-half Nick Evans is unlikely to remain part of the team. It is understood that Rob Hunter, formerly both forwards and head coach at Exeter, is being lined up for an assistant role alongside Deans and Gilmore. Alan Dickens, who recently stepped down as head coach of Newcastle Red Bulls, could also be considered and has strong links with a number of Harlequins players from his time coaching England Under-20s.
The board, led by chief executive Laurie Dalrymple, is conscious of how crucial it is to get not just the right coaches in place but also the right structure. Since director of rugby Conor O’Shea left in 2016, John Kingston, Paul Gustard, Tabai Matson, Billy Millard, Wilson and Gilmore have all led the team at various points and that instability within the coaching set-up has led to the team underperforming on the pitch. Despite winning the Premiership in 2021, when they ironically did not have a head coach, Quins have qualified for the play-offs only one other time in the past 10 years.
“To be honest, the reason we are having our current problems is because we have had a changeable head coach environment pretty consistently for too long now,” Dalrymple told Telegraph Sport in January.
“If you don’t have someone who can provide stability and a sustained and clear plan – in line with the identity of club and we are quite clear how we think we should and want to play – but it is entirely fair to say, if we don’t have a coach in situ who can deliver on that, then this equally feeds into your retention, your recruitment, your academy transition, your squad composition. All of those buckets feed off that critical appointment. For various reasons we have not that stability so we have to make sure we get this decision and this process absolutely correct regarding our long-term appointment decision.”