From the offy.....

Hooker Elia Elia has signed a new contract with Harlequins. The 23-year-old Samoan international, who initially joined the Club on a short-term deal in 2016, has played a vital role in the squad as Harlequins have risen to third in the Gallagher Premiership this season and reached the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

 The Club tracked him during Samoa’s successful World Rugby U20s in 2016, when Elia was playing as a Number eight and impressed with ball in hand. In 2017 he moved to hooker and was included in the Manu Samoa squad for the Autumn Internationals. Harlequins signed him straight after his first start for Samoa against Canada and made the move permanent soon after. He has since earned six international caps.

 Elia, who scored his first try of the season against Saracens at The Stoop on Saturday, said: “There is a great buzz going about The Stoop at the moment. It is a lot of fun and we are developing an excellent winning mentality.

“I am delighted to be re-signing with the Club and now look forward to creating some very special memories for The Stoop supporters.”


Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said: “I am delighted Eazee has committed his future to the club. When I was appointed to the role back in July I was really looking forward to working with Elia and helping him progress in his career.

“Eazee is so laid back he is horizontal but he is a very talented rugby player who has natural game sense, incredible latent raw power and a great turn of pace which makes him one of the most dangerous ball carrying hookers in the competition.

“The coaches and support staff are committed to helping Elia realise his potential and help him develop into one of the leading hookers in the Gallagher Premiership. As a front row forward he is still maturing, but he has the physical qualities to be a monster if he applies and pushes himself to aim high.

“It is our job to help him see the way and show everyone what we see, and what we know, lies inside him.”

Excellent news, signings coming thick and fast. 

....and it's all such "fun"! Despotic all the good news, this is starting to grate.

I thought I's commented but seems to have got lost. Good news. Promising prospect. Started really well for us, then slightly went off the boil and was injured but then seems to be getting back to good form.

If Baldwin does join, then even with Ward seemingly going, I'm not sure we'll keep Buchanan. Baldwin, Crumpton, Elia and Musk is probably enough, hard as it is on Buchanan. We'll see though, and Baldwin rumour may not be confirmed.

Anyway, good news re Elia and congratulations

Would it be wrong if when he scores a chorus of ‘Eazee, Eazee, Eazee, Eazee’ rang around the Stoop.  Sure it might upse some until the knew to what it referred.

I'm not sure I know to what it refers!  ???

....and it's all such "fun"! Despotic all the good news, this is starting to grate.

Ha ha! Let's see, they might mix it up with news of someone whose contract is not being renewed and an accompanying sad photo and statement: "I don't wanna go!!!!!"

Said before, he has not really been a hooker for that long. Played his youth rugby for Canterbury as a Back Row.  I can forgive him the odd bad throw as he is still learning.  Its players like Ward that have been playing their whole career and cant hit a barn door that gets me. 

Well. Fine to have one of those in your squad. But not 3. And he needs to improve sharpish if he wants to make it as a hooker. He's not an 18-year old academy prospect. He shouldn't be learning to throw as a 23-year old who might need to start a premiership match at any time.

He turned 23 about a week ago. He’s a baby. Great prospect for years to come - v happy.