Shock move as Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson leaves Gallagher Premiership club to join Wales - 'Really tough decision for me to make'
Updated 11/09/2025 at 16:11 GMT+1
Harlequins head coach Danny Wilson has announced his decision to leave the club and join Wales as an assistant coach for the men's national squad. Wilson joined Quins ahead of the 2023/24 season after spells with Glasgow Warriors and Leicester Tigers. The 49-year-old was part of the Wales coaching set-up for the summer tour of Japan and becomes Steve Tandy's first appointment.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Danny Wilson has left his role as Harlequins head coach to join Wales as an assistant to Steve Tandy.
The 49-year-old will take charge of one final game as Harlequins take on Newcastle Red Bulls on Friday night in the PREM Rugby Cup.
Wilson becomes the first appointment since Tandy took over as the Wales head coach and admitted it was not an easy decision to leave Quins.
"This has been a really tough decision for me to make as I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Quins," Wilson said. "But the chance to join Wales and return to international rugby was simply too good an opportunity to turn down.
"There have been some incredible moments while I have been at Quins, and as always, some that have been more challenging. But the run into the 2023/24 Champions Cup semi-final with memorable victories over Racing 92, Glasgow Warriors and Bordeaux alongside our victory over Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last season will stay with me for a long time.
"I am also hugely proud of the work we’ve undertaken in the last two seasons to blood the next generation of Quins players, and I know this will stand the club in good stead for the 2025/26 season and beyond.
"Finally, I’d like to thank the players, board, staff and fans for all their support during my time at Quins."
Wilson worked with the Wales national team during their summer tour of Japan and was formerly the national Under-20s head coach. He also has experience as an assistant coach with Scotland between 2018 and 2020.
He joined Quins in July 2023 and led the club to a maiden Champions Cup semi-final. However, Wilson was only able to oversee sixth and seventh-place finishes in the Gallagher Premiership during his time in charge.
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Harlequins have confirmed the coaching group of Nick Evans, Jason Gilmore, Adam Jones and Gerard Mullen, alongside general manager Andy Sanger will "assume greater responsibility in the short term" while the club conducts a review into what comes next.
Watch and stream the PREM season on TNT Sports and discovery+
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