Harlequins winger Cassius Cleaves feels 'stronger' than ever after scoring dramatic brace in win over Northampton Saints

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Cassius Cleaves scored a brace to help Harlequins to a dramatic 22-19 win over Gallagher Premiership champions Northampton Saints on Friday. The former England Under-20 international had not played since suffering a hamstring injury in September, but now feels he is faster than ever after returning to full fitness to inspire Quins to victory. The west London club sit fifth in the table.

Cassius Cleaves scores his sides first try during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Harlequins and Northampton Saints at The Stoop on January 24, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)

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Winger Cassius Cleaves feels he is stronger than ever before, after returning from a hamstring injury to score his first two Gallagher Premiership tries in Harlequins' 22-19 victory against Northampton Saints.

The defending champions were 14-10 up at half-time after George Makepeace-Cubitt converted Tom Pearson and Tarek Haffar's tries, while Quins kept within touching distance thanks to Cleaves and Tom Lawday.

Tom Seabrook added Saints' third shortly after the break, but Will Joseph crossed the whitewash before Cleaves dramatically stole victory for the hosts in the closing stages.

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The former England Under-20 international suffered a hamstring injury in his first Gallagher Premiership start for Quins against Newcastle Falcons last September.

However, he believes he is back and better than ever after his decisive contributions in the victory over Saints.

"To be honest with you, it was a really good three months off," Cleaves told TNT Sports. "I could focus on loads of other aspects of my game.

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"I actually got quicker, considering it was a hamstring injury. That is always the worry, that you won't come back as quick.

"I came back quicker, came back stronger, a little bit heavier, but to be honest with you, that will come down once I get back playing again, and I get conditioned again.

"It was just a really good opportunity to focus on some stuff outside of rugby, and it put me in a good place to come back for this game.

"I was blowing honestly, I have not played for about three months after my hamstring [injury], so it was good to be out there, but that was a tough game all round.

"It was tough out there, but it felt really good to get a win and five points and put ourselves back on track in the Premiership."

The result leaves Harlequins bearing down on a play-off position in fifth place, one point behind fourth-placed Leicester Tigers, who are yet to play this weekend.

Saints, meanwhile, remain eighth in the Premiership standings following their sixth defeat of the season.

Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson spoke of his excitement to see match-winner Cleaves figure more frequently for his side, now the winger has finally recovered from his hamstring setback.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"His last game here was against Newcastle at the start of the season and he looked great," Wilson said. "Unfortunately, he picked up quite a nasty injury,"

"He has been working really hard with our physios to get back, and he has got back. I haven't picked him the first two weeks, and now I think he is getting games under his belt.

"What he has got is just out-and-out gas, he can get away from people one-on-one and score. He finished a couple of good ones, like you said he probably could have had more."

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