Quins ask Chalmers for one last shot

Harlequins will ask Glasgow Caledonians to extend Craig Chalmers' loan until the end of the season and give the Scot one last fling at Twickenham.

The surprise finalists in the Tetley's Bitter Cup are confident of renewing the arrangement behind his temporary transfer which runs out four weeks before their big day out at Twickenham against Newcastle.

By then Quins expect to have two international fly halves in their squad. Ireland's Paul Burke, out since breaking an arm at Dax in the European Shield last October, will be fit for the quarter-final on January 27, assuming Quins win their remaining pool matches at Perigueux and at home to Ebbw Vale. 'We don't want to be going into the Tetley's final with one fly half,' said caretaker coach Mark Evans. 'We want competition in every position.' Chalmers, ineligible for the European matches, was back at his old Melrose club ground yesterday working to repair the mechanics of his place-kicking which went so badly awry - he missed six of nine attempts at goal - during the momentous semi-final win over Leicester. 'I've hardly been able to sleep since the game, thinking about it,' he said. 'I'm still gutted at missing so many because it could have cost us the game. I've never missed as many in one match.

'On the Friday I kicked 13 out of 15 from all over the place, and I had no problems again in practice on the day of the match. Unfortunately when it mattered my timing was completely out, but there was no way I was going to give up. 'I'm very hopeful the loan can be extended because I've really enjoyed my time at Quins.

The matches here seem to have a greater intensity than in Scottish club rugby - and also, I'd love to play in the Cup final.' Keith Wood will be there despite Ireland's ruling that their players cannot appear for their clubs between Six Nations matches. The rule does not apply to Irish players based in England.