Joe Launchbury chasing Gallagher Premiership glory with Harlequins - 'The only itch I’ve not scratched’

England’s Joe Launchbury has enjoyed a glittering career in rugby but admits there is a glaring omission on his CV that he would like to fill before he hangs up his boots.

The lock has earned 70 caps for his country since making his debut in 2012 and was part of three winning Six Nations squads in 2016, 2017 and 2020.

At club level, Launchbury spent the majority of his career at London Wasps until its sad demise in 2022 left him facing redundancy.

A short-term move to Japanese club Toyota Verblitz followed, but the 32-year-old is now back in the Gallagher Premiership with Harlequins, whose academy he was a part of between the ages of 15 and 18 before he joined the professional ranks.

Speaking to TNT Sports, he admitted it was a little “odd” to return to England after 12 years with Wasps but having been given the armband for the clash against Leicester Tigers, he is eager to make his impact felt.

“I think firstly, it's obviously a fantastic club with some great history,” he said, when asked what brought him back to the Premiership. “Obviously a tiny emotional attachment to my time here as a kid as well.

“It’s getting a bit more normal now and really starting to feel at home here. It’s my job to come into a new environment, see where I feel there needs to be improvements made, but also add a bit of experience.

“To come to a massive club with a stadium like this in front of a sellout every week, I don't take anything for granted.”

With Wasps, Launchbury earned plenty of individual recognition for his contribution but failed to lift the Premiership trophy, losing in the 2017 final to Exeter Chiefs.

Almost seven years on, it still irks him and he is keen to go one better with Quins.

“The only itch I feel in terms of my career which I’ve not scratched is the Premiership,” Launchbury added. “It is such a tough league to win. We've been there or thereabouts a few times but not quite got across the line.

“That's what really intrigued me, the opportunity to come back and chase that elusive title.”

As for his England career, Launchbury has not yet closed the door on a return, but admitted he expects to see out his final few years as a club player.

He was left out of Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad and said he’ll be “watching as a huge fan” as he reflected on his time representing his country.

“That's some of my proudest moments of playing rugby have been in that shirt. Absolutely loved every minute of it,” Launchbury continued

“I think the talent in that position is… I think we've always produced good locks. We've always produced second rows. Obviously, Maro [Itoje] has been there a number of years and you look at the two guys at Leicester in Ollie [Chessum] and George [Martin]. They're got a huge future in that shirt.

“I'm not retiring, but I always felt the last few years of my career I’d be a club player and also, I want to be a dad as well.”

Stuart Hogg, who faced Launchbury on several occasions at both international and club level, described his acquisition as “a great signing” before giving a glimpse into what it was like to come up against the tireless second-rower.

“Everyone always talks about the Farrells and the Fords of the world but he was in that side alongside these guys and he was unbelievable,” Hogg said. “He played in the middle row, he played in the back row and he was just absolutely everywhere.

“The engine on him is just mental, honestly, and it's great to see him after everything that happened at Wasps and obviously the heartbreak that goes with that.

“For him to be back at Quins now with a chance to properly kick on with his career is just absolutely tremendous for him and his family.”

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