It’s difficult to think about Harlequins without Conor O’Shea, the jovial and extremely experienced Irishman arrived at the club back in March 2010 and since he has overseen the Club’s most successful period in the professional era. However come June there will be a new man in charge as Conor leaves for Italy and John Kingston will step into his shoes.
Once in role John is planning on taking a step back from coaching, currently he’s in the thick of it as head coach, and let his new coaching structure take the reigns. Mark Mapeltoft will be promoted from Backs Coach to Head Coach after six years in that role, Collin Osborne will continue as skills coach and they’ll be joined by two fresh faces. Graham Rowntree will come in as Forwards Coach and finally Nick Easter completes the team as Defence Coach.
It is a set up that looks to be a strong one and it fits the criterion that board member Sean Fitzpatrick wanted. The criterion included a passion for the club and an desire to continue the ‘Harlequins way’. This is not about radically changing Harlequins instead it is about continuing on their path and building. This structure, that was announced yesterday, was the one that Sean and the board started with and after interviewing various candidates finished with.
During the announcement John outlined two areas that he wants to focus on from the outset; sharpening up their recruitment game and fixing the ‘top two inches’. In terms of recruitment it will be about giving more resource to this area and focusing across the world and then in terms of the psychology really sharpening up this aspect of the squad and if there’s the right person available bringing them in to do this.
Nick Easter will be a coach first and foremost but retains a playing contract. Yesterday it was made very clear that his time and priorities will be coach led and should he be required to play he will. Naturally this is giving Harlequins the best of both worlds before he heads full-time into his new role and it will be up to Nick to manage the intricacies and balance of relationships with his team-mates next season. For some that could be difficult but given Nick’s personality and experience in the game he should be absolutely fine.
Finally the re-introduction to rugby of Graham Rowntree is the last piece of the puzzle and a great one. England’s former forwards coach is ‘eager’ to get back into coaching after what he called ‘an enforced exile from the game’. It was a time that Graham found difficult and doesn’t want to dwell upon instead saying that he ‘learned a lot in that period and is going to use that going forwards’. Within England’s set-up Graham was always an extremely popular character as well as being an experienced and knowledgeable coach, and his personality and energy will suit Harlequins’ squad brilliantly. If anyone can handle the big personalities and characters housed in Harlequins’ front row and forward pack then it’s Graham and I expect to see quick developments under his tutelage. 
So as Sean Fitzpatrick opened with at yesterday’s announcement ‘the worst kept secret in rugby is out’ and Harlequins have confirmed how they will progress post Conor O’Shea. The work that Conor has done over the last six years has been superb and he leaves Harlequins in a strong place. The manner in which he has handled his departure says everything that you need to know about their Director of Rugby. In the weeks counting down to his departure it’s not been about him and won’t be until after the side have played their final game of the season. Instead the focus remains solely on the task at hand and it would be a fitting finish to Conor's time at the club if Danny Care lifted the European Challenge Cup trophy at the Grand Stade de Lyon on May 13. 