By Old Kwin
August 27 2002

The 2023/4 Virgin Premiership kicks off on Sat, with tension rising: the first game of the season is often a problem, and against an exciting Gloucester-Wasps team we'll be hoping to avoid a 17th consecutive opening-game defeat, by playing a nine-man scrum, and Bing "speedy" Gellings on both wings.

(Extracted from ComeAllWithin.co.uk, 28 August 2023. New Season Preview)

Prospects

Once again this year we have been drawn in Pool B of the Virgin Premiership among a strong line up that includes established rivals Wigan, Leeds Falcons, Leicester and London Broncos as well as the Cherry-and-Yellows. In addition this season, both pools of the expanded VP will be livened up by fresh faces:  Here in Pool B we'll meet newbies Saracens (whom older fans may remember from long ago as a rugby club), and over in Pool A the incumbents will be joined, romantically, by the club of the 21st Century: AFC London-Broncos. Formed in 2010 by a separatist faction of London Broncos fans, after a long running schism, the 'hyphens' as they are lovingly known, have showed themselves true to the old Broncos tradition, playing exciting, adventurous and committed rugby and climbing the leagues by buying up and swallowing struggling rival clubs. Last season they finally achieved their ambition of promotion to the top flight by finishing third in Division One, getting the promotion nod over better-placed Rotherham for technical reasons.

Signings

At Quins, CEO Lord Evans of Jilling has had a busy summer completing a host of exciting signings, and the season looks bright. Our headline signing is, of course US International, Clark Kent. Alas, he won't be arriving until the Autumn - as reported in Rugby World, he's not sure he's up to the stresses of playing while there's still pollen in the air. Meanwhile, we have several other signings to whet the appetite of the voracious Diamond Piranhas.  Most prominent of these is the Fijian Vili Godot, for whom we've been waiting for some time. He's now expected on Saturday.

Off field our coaching team is similarly strengthened, with long standing coach, Chris Sheasby joined by a new Director of Rugby, Lord Evans of Jilling. The club line up is thus now missing just one vital position: a quality 23:  Despite the announcement of Harley Bear's retirement as long ago as May, the key mascot position remains unfilled, and recent sightings of veteran Will Carling at the Stoop have apparently come to nothing.

Match-Day Experience

The Diamond Piranhas, Quins noisy and demanding fans will be out in force on Saturday. Before the game they can usually be found lurking beneath the North Stand in the "5/10" bar , where they welcome newcomers with a spot of banter. - Tickets are still available for the game at only €35.  Come on you Quinsah!