The University of Surrey and Harlequins Women are excited to confirm an exciting new partnership ahead of the 2025/26 season.
With the official launch of this new partnership, both the University of Surrey and aim to develop one of the best university pathway programmes in the country, attracting world-class athletes to study and train at the University of Surrey.
The agreement is a significant partnership, providing dedicated resources across coaching, athletic performance and medical provisions, with a full alignment around the rugby delivery between the two programmes. The partnership represents a significant step change in the development of the Harlequins Women’s Pathway.
The likes of Zara Green and Maddy Page have both flourished having continued their rugby development alongside academic studies at the University of Surrey, with both players recently making their debuts for England U20s.
One of the core aims of Harlequins Women is to develop the next generation of Red Roses by establishing a player pool of young, talented, English qualified players, who will grow and develop within the Club’s pathway, before progressing into the senior environment. The announcement of this new partnership will play a crucial role in realising that aspiration.
Head of Women’s Rugby at Harlequins, Andy Rhys Jones said: “We’re delighted to formally launch our partnership with the University of Surrey. The work that Pat has done in the last 12 months has been phenomenal and we are looking forward to taking it to the next level this season. If you look at the landscape of the women’s game, you can see the impact that a strong, viable pathway from university to elite rugby can have for players.”
“The university relationship is such an important one as it will allow our players to continue to flourish in higher education, whilst learning and developing within an elite rugby environment. This is a hugely exciting move for both Harlequins and the University of Surrey and one that we know will be incredibly beneficial for both parties and for the players,” he added.
Harlequins Women’s Pathway Manager Pat Metcalfe-Jones has played a crucial role in the development of the university pathway over the last year and believes that the formation of this partnership will be crucial in the development of the next generation of Harlequins players.
“There is so much talent within the university game across the country. Regular game time in a competitive environment is a crucial part of a young player’s development and allows them to grow as both athletes and people. We have already seen our pathway in action this past year, with Maddy Page making her PWR debut and earning her first England U20s cap alongside Zara Green and we expect to see more success stories in the coming years.”
She added: “I’m incredibly excited by the direction we are travelling in. Players within the performance side at the University of Surrey will have access to state-of-the-art gym facilities, as well as top-class coaching and performance staff to support them in realising their potential.”
Georgina Agnies, Director of University Sport said: “We are thrilled to officially launch this partnership with Harlequins Women. It marks a transformative moment for women’s rugby at the University of Surrey and reflects our shared ambition to create one of the leading university rugby pathways in the country.”
“This collaboration will give our student athletes unparalleled access to elite level coaching, performance, and medical support, enabling them to thrive both academically and athletically. We’re incredibly proud to be working alongside a club with the stature and vision of Harlequins Women. Together, we’re committed to nurturing the next generation of Red Roses and providing a world-class sporting and academic environment for players to grow.”
Luke Bennet, Student Sport & Performance Manager added: “We are delighted to partner with Harlequins Women for the next three years following promotion this year into the second tier of University Women’s Rugby. An incredible amount of work has gone in by both organisations to ensure that we have a sustainable long-term plan that provides a caring, progressive and expert led environment for student athletes to be part of.”
“The close link with Harlequins will allow athletes to grow and succeed on and off the pitch. The movement of talent between both organisations will allow athletes to play rugby to the highest level and experience the values and culture of a leading Premiership Women’s Rugby Club.”