The reasons behind Marland Yarde's messy Harlequins exit as England wing has played his last game for the club
England wing will be allowed to leave Harlequins this week after missing training three times, with Sale Sharks favourites to sign him
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Marland Yarde has been told he has no future at Harlequins after failing to report for training on three separate occasions without providing a satisfactory explanation.
The Aviva Premiership club gave the 25-year-old international his marching orders last week, with Quins director of rugby John Kingston telling his prized asset that his behaviour was no longer conducive with the culture he is trying to build at the West London club.
Kingston has grown increasingly exasperated with Yarde’s behaviour ever since he failed to report for training 24 hours before the squad were set to depart for a pre-season training camp in Germany, paid for by team sponsor’s Adidas.
Yarde failed to report for training in August, telling club officials he had ‘overslept’ and was subsequently told not to attend the pre-season camp in Herzogenaurach which Kingston had seen as “an opportunity to get some hard training in, while also helping to develop the spirit and togetherness within the squad.”
Kingston’s patience snapped last week when it emerged Yarde had failed to attend the captain’s run the day before his side faced a crucial clash against Wasps in the European Champions Cup, while he also missed a training session earlier this season on top of his pre-season aberration.
It is understood Yarde has been told he has become a disruptive influence within the squad and he must find himself another club. Quins’ Premiership rivals Sale Sharks are favourites to sign the troubled star, who was last week overlooked for Eddie Jones’ autumn international squad, although director of rugby Steve Diamond on Friday denied any conversations had taken place with the player.
It appears increasingly clear however that Yarde has played his last game for Quins after signing on a three-year deal worth £250,000-a-year from London Irish in 2014.
“Marland is under contract to Harlequins Rugby Football Club and he remains a Harlequins player at the moment,” said Kingston.
“If and when Harlequins decide that somebody is not right to stay, firstly you honour that contract and then if you decide it’s the right thing to move someone on, and you get to that point, you can do that as you wish to do so.”
“I have to make decisions I believe are for the better good of Harlequins Rugby Football Club, all the time. I want to build an environment and a culture, with a tight-knit group of people that can work our way through things, and challenge for honours.”
Quins are expected to formally announce Yarde’s departure this week.
With Yarde not present at the ground after being told he had burnt his bridges, Kingston’s men made hard of work in beating bottom of the table Worcester Warrriors in an 11-try thriller at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday.
England hopeful Marcus Smith secured a personal haul of 18 points as the 18-year-old – named last week by Jones as one of two ‘apprentices’ in his autumn squad – impressed again. Smith missed just one kick from seven attempts as the home side ran in five tries to Worcester’s six, but the visitors’ goal-kicking let them down as debutant Jono Lance missed four attempts.
Worcester at least secured two bonus points but were unable to claim their first win of the season with Quins right winger Charlie Walker scoring the pick of his side’s tries as they claimed a crucial bonus point win.
With 28 players unavailable through injury or suspension, Quins have plenty of talent to come back into the side. It appears increasingly certain, however, Yarde does not feature in their future plans.
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