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Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
By Prof April 1 2008
Quins have announced the signing of Neil McMillan from Ulster where he has played for the last seven seasons after previously being in the Academy at Leicester where Dean Richards first worked with him. While Harlequins' back row has received a lot of plaudits during the 2007-8 season one position where they have been lacking in depth is at openside with only Skinner being an out-and-out seven.
If Will Skinner keeps up his current fantastic form McMillan will have a job getting the 7 shirt from him but it is always best to have strong competition for all positions in the team, and it's handy to have a good back up if Skinner is likely to be called up for international duty - perhaps at Saxons level.

He has played for Ireland at Schools, U19, U21, 7s and A level. In 2003 he won the Irish rugby young player of the year award and was part of the Bristol Royal Academy's cup winning team in 1997.

As with a number of Quins' signings of late he has had a bad time with injuries missing large parts of two seasons and having reconstructive surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in November 2004 after injuring it in pre-season.

Date of Birth: 15/5/1981
Height: 5'11" (1.80m)
Weight: 15st 13lbs (101kg)
Previous Clubs: Ballymena, Ulster

McMillan's experience in the Heineken Cup, where he has scored five tries over the years, should be useful for Quins in the years ahead.

On the Harlequins site Dean Richards said:

"I have known Neil since his early days at Leicester, and I am looking forward to being a part of his future development. Neil is a genuine number seven. He is a great tackler, with a huge work rate."

Neil said:

"I have been with Ulster for seven years and, although I have had a great time at the club, I feel that it is the right time to take the next step. Quins will be a new and exciting challenge. I respect everything that Dean and his squad have achieved so far this season. Harlequins is a young and dynamic team, and I am looking forward to being a part of it next season."

It seems that many Ulster fans are disappointed to see him leave and many have said that if he hadn't had a series of injuries he would have definitely made the full Ireland squad.

He is described as being speedy, strong and robust whose game suits a free flowing & passing game - just the sort of game that Quins have been playing so well recently. His experience as captain of Ulster will also be a great asset to such a young team as Quins. Here's hoping his injury jinxes are over and that he has a long and successful career with us.

Welcome to the club Neil

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: rodders1 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:01:22:35:16

Yes indeed - welcome - if you perform as well as our past Irish players you will be very welcome

on on quins

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Jammy Git (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:01:23:53:56

With Volley approaching his 75th birthday it's an ideal signing to keep Will on his toes!

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Quinten Poulsen (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:00:16:14

Great news, glad to see it confirmed. Should keep some of the moaners about when we announce our signings happy. Welcome and good luck, Neil.

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: kevin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:05:30:14

The fourth paragraph scared me!

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Babs (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:06:19:41

I'm off to Ravenhill at the end of the month.
I'll check him out.

BTW It's Heineken

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: THE BIG EASY (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:07:24:46

Quote:
Quinten Poulsen
Great news, glad to see it confirmed. Should keep some of the moaners about when we announce our signings happy. Welcome and good luck, Neil.

And your not a moaner then?

************************************************
*ANDRE VOS AND DAVID WILSON ARE HARLEQUIN LEGENDS*
************************************************

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Battering Ram Winger (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:08:10:18

Where's the 10?

(Moan over!)

Welcome to the club! Competition for starting places in the team is vital if we are to maintain the performances we've seen of late.

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: quins_hants (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:11:28:59

Always nice to see a new face join the club - he has got a big job to become the crowds fav Irishman to replace Simon, but if Deano has picked him, I am sure that he will be up to it.

However, (my moan!) - not sure that 'McMillan' works quite as well as 'Keoooogh!' or 'Ugooooo!' from the crowd - perhaps he would like to change his name by deed-poll?? :-)

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: UQ (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:11:36:14

I'm sure his signature tune will be mack the knife when he scores his tries(Sm125)

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Quinten Poulsen (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:12:19:36

Quote:
And your not a moaner then?

I meant moaning about holding back on announcing signings. I like to moan about other things.

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: THE BIG EASY (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:12:59:25

Moaning makes the world go around!

************************************************
*ANDRE VOS AND DAVID WILSON ARE HARLEQUIN LEGENDS*
************************************************

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Quinten Poulsen (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:13:23:06

UTTER HOGWASH!!

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Quin Kong (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:13:26:41

TBE- Do you mean that moaning makes the earth move?





I'll get me coat.

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Squirrel Nutquin (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:15:15:58

quins_hants - What's wrong with Neilooooooooooooooo?

ON ON ON 'QUINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Catchyerselfon2 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:02:16:34:08

Babs - McMillan won't be playing for the rest of the season - and if he does it'll be coming off the bench and not as a starter (he's not been "Togged Out" in weeks, so i assume either injured or out of favour)

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Catchyerselfon2 (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:09:07:58:13

Another 25 man squad named by Matt Williams for Ulster against Connacht on Friday Evening without the name of Neil McMillan involved in it - Still don't know whether he's injured or not, as nobody seems to know over here

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Re: Neil McMillan Joins Harlequins
Posted by: Battering Ram Winger (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:04:09:08:23:54

Quote:
quins_hants - What's wrong with Neilooooooooooooooo?

Or "Macca!"

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