Diprose relishes new challenge with Quins

13 April 2012

Tony Diprose will put 10 years of experience with Saracens to good use for London rivals Harlequins when the new season kicks off on Saturday.

The 28 - year- old has switched to Quins and will line up at No 8 against London Irish at The Stoop in Saturday's Zurich Premiership match.

Diprose brings to the table the experience of captaincy at Saracens - he led them to their only trophy in the professional era, the Tetley's Bitter Cup in 1998 - and 10 games for England, the last of those in the summer of 1999 when he just failed to make the cut for World Cup selection.

He said: "I had been with one club for 10 years and I was pretty nervous about moving into a new situation. But I had to make a decision on what I wanted to do and Quins was the best place."

Only towards the end of last season did it become clear that Saracens would not offer Diprose a new contract but he was already looking around. At the time Quins were heading towards finishing second-from-bottom of the Premiership, but victory in the European Shield secured qualification for this year's Heineken European Cup.

"Europe was a bonus because it came after I agreed to join," admitted Diprose.

"Obviously the target is to do better than 11th in the league. That would not be good enough for us this season in terms of the way we feel about ourselves."

He added: "We want to be more consistent and more competitive. I know we are going to be fighting in every game. Nobody is going to roll us over.

"We have worked hard, the guys are in good shape, and obviously you hope you can translate the pre-season work onto the pitch. Everyone has worked hard. There are no prima donnas."

Quins will not have a regular captain this season. David Wilson, the Australian flanker who holds the job, is out for several months recovering from a knee injury but there will be no permanent replacement.

So Diprose, at No 8, will be one of half a dozen candidatesto do the job on an occasional basis.

"I would be honoured to do it," he said. "There is obviously a leadership element in the position I play and I think that will be expected of me as much as anything else. That is part of the package Quins have bought into, hopefully."

Meanwhile, London Wasps have appointed centre Mark Denney as captain while Lawrence Dallaglio recovers from his knee injury.

The 26-year-old will lead the club in their opening game against Saracens at Loftus Road on Sunday.

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