Harlequins hold onto their star
NEWS: Harlequins confirmed that Jack Clifford has signed a new three-year contract with the club.
The loose forward, who is with the England camp preparing for the Six Nations this week, is enjoying another excellent season and has played a key part as the club has risen to third in the Premiership and reached the quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup.
Clifford has been with Harlequins since the age of 13, made his debut in the 2012/13 season and two seasons later he won the Supporters’ Player, Young Player and Players’ Player of the Year awards at the club. He was also nominated for Premiership Breakout Player of the Season.
The following season he scored nine tries for the club and went on to make his England debut in the 2016 Six Nations. This was followed by the successful 2016 tour to Australia as he played a big part in England’s record-breaking international winning streak. He currently has 10 international caps and an international try to his name.
Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said he was delighted to see Clifford sign a new contract with the club as the team looks forward to challenging for major honours.
He said: "Jack has developed from a kid with outstanding potential into a full international during his time at Harlequins and I have been privileged to have played a part in his burgeoning career when we first crossed paths in 2016 and now in my role here at Harlequins.
"He has shown the resilience, effort and desire to use the time he has been injured to come back and not only reintegrate into the side showing all the qualities that we know, but further to excel in a physically demanding position playing in a manner that has meant he has been a stand-out performer for us this season and gaining his selection with England.
"He thoroughly deserves all the success that is sure to come his way for club and country. I am delighted that he believes in what we want to achieve as we believe in him and we are stronger moving forward with Jack-man in our squad."
Clifford added: "I am delighted to have signed my new contract with Harlequins. Under Gussy and the excellent team of coaches we have been building a winning environment, based on an uncompromising attitude in all that we do.
"It is a really exciting time to be here and I am so pleased to be a part of what I know will be a successful future at Harlequins. We all want to win trophies and we are going to have a lot of fun in our mission to get them."
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