HARLEQUINS IS DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT HOMEGROWN SECOND ROW GEORGE HAMMOND HAS PENNED A NEW DEAL WITH THE CLUB.
Hammond, 22, becomes the 17th player and the 12th Harlequins Academy product to recommit to the Quarters this year, as the Club’s pathway continues to produce high-quality players.

With 36 senior appearances to his name, Hammond has laid claim to a strong start to his senior career, having already played in all available competitions for the Club and playing his part in the squad that lifted the 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership title.

A mobile lock who has also been seen playing at blindside flanker, Hammond claimed eye-catching tries across three competitions during the 21/22 season.

Representing England at U17, U18 and U20 levels during his age-grade campaigns, Hammond extends a 10-year relationship with the South West London Club, having debuted against local rivals London Irish at the start of the 2019/20 season.

Commenting on his new deal, Hammond said: “Having the opportunity to play for your boyhood club is always special, so to be able to re-sign here with Harlequins is fantastic and I’m thrilled to be able to continue representing this team.

“We play a great style of rugby that suits my game and is also fantastic for our supporters to see week in, week out. It’s enjoyable as a player to be part of a group that does what we can do.

“There’s a good group of us here at the moment that have come through the age grades together, it’s great to be able to progress through the ranks with some of your best mates. This is a team that really values and invests in its Academy system and I think we’re seeing the benefit of that now with so many of us breaking into the senior team.

“This is the best place for me to be and I’m thrilled to continue my time as a Harlequin.”

Harlequins Defence and Lineout Coach Jerry Flannery said: “It’s great to have George recommitted to the squad. He’s one of a spate of young, homegrown talent that have come on leaps and bounds over the last couple years and have established themselves as regular faces in the senior team.

“We’re a club that values the importance and quality of our Academy pathway and it’s great to see the fruits of the system’s labour come to fruition via the likes of George.

“As a player, George is a great lineout lock and his mobility around the park gives him the ability to play at blindside when called upon, which is a valuable trait for the team.

“We’re delighted to have him signed on for more with his boyhood side and look forward to seeing him continue his development as a senior second row.”

Excellent news and thanks for using a hyphen.

A thought that strikes me about Hammond is that he may have a similar curve to Lamb.

There were a couple of years where Dino looked like he was heading towards being a fairly anonymous squad player who could do a job but wouldn't be a genuine first team contender, and then two years ago he came back from preseason looking like he'd bulked up a bit and has become a really solid operator who I think is a first choice in games where we need to disrupt the opposition more than have an extra heavyweight carrier.

Likewise, I suspect Hammond is at that age where the club are waiting for his muscles to catch up with his skeleton, but when he gets there he has all the skills to be the long term successor to Lewies.

Said it on a previous thread but Hammond has been disappointing for me this season. Still seems underpowered in the contact area compared to the other second row options. With the injury records of Steph, Lamb and the incoming Launchbury, we’ll need Hammond to be ready to step up.

That was almost exactly the point of my post. Hammond probably isn't physically ready to play more than a few games as a stop gap at Prem level. The club have done a decent job of gauging which players will mature into effective seniors. so give him time.

So pleased, known him for a few years....GREAT KID!!!!!