Ibitoye can lead Quins’ revival - Sloan
JET-HEELED England U20s wing Gabriel Ibitoye must be granted full rein to spearhead a Harlequins revival, according to former Stoop centre Harry Sloan.
Sloan, below, now rebuilding his career at Ealing after serious knee and hamstring injuries, admits Quins have fallen a long way behind their Premiership rivals but is backing new head coach Paul Gustard to restore the club to its position as top four challengers.
Sloan, who left Quins in May, told The Rugby Paper: “Last year didn’t click for the club and we had one of the worst defences in the league. Other teams pushed on and became much better while we stayed in the same place and were nearly relegated.
“Quins can’t do much worse but Paul Gustard coming in will be great for the club and he’ll hopefully push them on to better things now. With the players they’ve got Quins have the ability to be a top four side and I’m sure Paul can start turning it around.”
Ibitoye, a standout performer in the recent U20s World Championship, made just four Premiership appearances last season, but Sloan added: “They should definitely integrate him into their first team next season because he’s an exceptional talent.
“Marcus Smith got his chance last year and repaid that faith and Gabs must play as well now because he’ll be a huge threat to Premiership defences.
“Quins have always been at the forefront with their academy and in Marcus and Gabs they’ve got two brilliant youngsters who could lead their revival. They’ve got all the confidence in the world and are humble as well, so just give them a chance.” Sloan, 24, is aiming for a swift return to the Premiership after accepting the chance of regular rugby at ambitious Ealing rather than be a bit-part player elsewhere. A two-time Junior Cup winner with England in 2013 and 2014, Sloan explained: “I did have other options but I wanted to be somewhere where I could be first choice. “Quins were brilliant for me, I’d been with them since I was 15, but I haven’t played as much rugby as I’d have liked over the last two years because of injury.
“I did my ACL the year before last, then tore a hamstring off the bone last season, so it’s been tough to deal with setbacks like that and I need a fresh start.”
Sloan, one of 11 signings from the Premiership made by Ealing, added: “It’s a club with big aspirations and a big backer and they want to be in the Premiership.
“They’re not shy of that and they made it very clear on the first day of preseason when they put the ambitions up on a screen – it said one word: promotion.
“There’s a lot of Premiership quality in our team and a lot of boys in similar positions to me who have plenty of points to prove, so we’ll give London Irish a good run for their money next season and we’re all buzzing for this challenge.”