Harlequins captain Dombrandt signs new deal

Harlequins captain Alex Dombrandt has become the latest player to sign a new contract in a string of extensions at the Premiership club.

The England number eight took over the Quins captaincy from South African Stephan Lewies in the summer.

Vice-captain Cadan Murley and England colleagues Marcus Smith and Fin Baxter are among the other players to have committed their future to The Stoop in recent weeks.

Dombrandt, 27, has scored 76 tries in 144 appearances in the famous quarters and has 20 international caps.

“This is a club that I love and I think we’re going places with the players we have in the squad and group of coaching staff,” he told the Harlequins website.

Cassius Cleaves, Will Porter, Will Evans, Tyrone Green, Sam Riley, Nick David and Lewies have all signed new deals since the beginning of November.

The club have not revealed the length of any of the contracts, apart from the one signed by England fly-half Smith until 2028.

‘Harlequins have the best fans in the world’

Dombrandt joined Harlequins from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2018.

He played in all 22 league fixtures as Quins won the Premiership title in 2020-21, playing a leading role in his side’s 40-38 final victory over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.

His fine club form was rewarded with his England Test debut in June 2021 against Canada.

Dombrandt came off the bench in England’s autumn international defeats against New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

“I think we have the best fans in the world – they come rain or shine, home and away,” he said of the Quins supporters.

“Wherever we are in the world they’re always there supporting us. They’re all a massive part of why this club is so special.

“It’s an honour to be captain of a club I hold so close to my heart. That being said, we have a number of leaders in the group who support me and I can lean on as we work towards our goal of winning more trophies.”