{"id":298877,"date":"2023-12-10T00:25:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T00:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298877"},"modified":"2023-12-10T00:25:00","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T00:25:00","slug":"quins-move-was-no-brainer-there-was-only-one-deal-will-joseph-wanted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-union\/quins-move-was-no-brainer-there-was-only-one-deal-will-joseph-wanted\/","title":{"rendered":"Quins move was no-brainer!\u00a0There was only one deal WILL JOSEPH wanted"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><span>EXCLUSIVE<\/span> Quins move was a no-brainer&#8230; despite rivalry with Irish!\u00a0There was only one deal WILL JOSEPH wanted when his old club folded last summer, and he still has his sights set on England<\/h1>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>London Irish folded last summer but Joseph was snapped up by Harlequins<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>He will go toe-to-toe with another English talent, Henry Arundell, on Sunday<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>He also still wants to play for his country after missing out on a World Cup place\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When Will Joseph went on holiday to Ibiza last summer with his then London Irish team-mates, he did so on the back of what was a successful season for both him and his team.<\/p>\n<p>As he partied away on the \u2018white island\u2019 at the end of a breakthrough campaign, the now 21-year-old centre could never have foreseen what was to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018There were five of us young boys from Irish who went out,\u2019 Joseph says, now able to look back on a turbulent period with a smile. \u2018We all thought we still had jobs at that point but when we came back, reality kicked in. I probably wouldn\u2019t have spent so much money if I\u2019d known what was going to happen!\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Joseph had barely shifted his holiday hangover when he learned that after finishing fifth in the Premiership last season, Irish had followed Worcester and Wasps into financial oblivion. The London club\u2019s descent into administration meant all of Irish\u2019s employees \u2013 including Joseph \u2013 lost their jobs immediately.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We had a pretty strong season, just missing out on the top four. We felt we were building pretty nicely and had a talented young group,\u2019 he says. \u2018There were rumours flying about. We didn\u2019t believe it (administration) was going to happen but when we got back from Ibiza, we felt like it was pretty much the end.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776245-12845731-Will_Joseph_has_settled_into_life_at_Harlequins_after_joining_fr-a-82_1702156263033.jpg\" height=\"425\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Will Joseph has settled into life at Harlequins after joining from London Irish after their collapse last summer<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776813-12845731-image-m-95_1702157007006.jpg\" height=\"929\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>The youngster has admitted that he and his team-mates didn&#8217;t expect the club to go into administration when they did<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776259-12845731-Former_England_head_coach_Eddie_Jones_gave_Joseph_his_internatio-a-84_1702156263040.jpg\" height=\"410\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Former England head coach Eddie Jones gave Joseph his international debut in Brisbane<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It was tough because all that was going on and I had to focus then on going into the World Cup preparation camps with England. It was a pretty stressful time.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was pretty fortunate in that as soon as Irish went down, I managed to get a move to Harlequins.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The uncertainty was a lot harder for players with mortgages and children. A few of my close mates from Irish couldn\u2019t find a club and have gone to university.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019m sure they\u2019re enjoying it but going from a professional environment back to education is tough. I was lucky. There were a few offers, but I was pretty set on Harlequins.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I was really attracted to their style. It was the club I had in mind when Irish went down even though they are a London rival! It was a no brainer!\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Harlequins\u2019 decision to snap up Joseph immediately was no surprise given the huge promise he had shown with Irish. His talent is obvious and was enough for former England head coach Eddie Jones to hand him an England debut in Australia in 2022. Joseph had only been named for that tour as an apprentice. The younger brother of former Bath, England and Lions centre Jonathan was a rookie down under alongside Henry Arundell \u2013 another product of the Irish system.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On Sunday afternoon, the two will go head-to-head in a mouthwatering Champions Cup tie in Paris when Harlequins travel to Arundell\u2019s TOP14 leaders Racing 92.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776427-12845731-Jack_Willis_pictured_got_injure_in_the_captain_s_run_before_the_-a-85_1702156263041.jpg\" height=\"434\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Jack Willis (pictured) got injure in the captain&#8217;s run before the second Test which paved the way for Joseph&#8217;s inclusion<\/p>\n<p>\u2018My mindset going in was I had nothing to lose,\u2019 Joseph says, recalling his first England tour.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We were in camp before the Barbarians match and Eddie came up to me and said: \u201cDo you want to hear the good news or the bad?\u201d I can\u2019t really remember what I said!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He said: \u201cWe\u2019ll start with the bad news \u2013 you\u2019re not playing against the Barbarians but I\u2019m going to take you to Australia.\u201d I was in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The thought of going on an international tour when I was 19 was incredible \u2013 something you dream of as a kid. Eddie said to me and Henry: \u201cYou\u2019re named as apprentice players but if you train hard and I think you\u2019re ready and good enough, then you\u2019ll play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Jack Willis got injured in the captain\u2019s run before the second Test and Eddie gave me the nod to say he was going to put me on the bench. It was a crazy time.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018There was a lot going through my head \u2013 excitement, nerves, a bit of disbelief. I was fortunate as I couldn\u2019t overthink it in that amount of time.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776291-12845731-He_was_able_to_focus_on_international_duty_even_though_his_club_-a-86_1702156263043.jpg\" height=\"390\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>He was able to focus on international duty even though his club had gone under and a move was a necessity<\/p>\n<p>Joseph made his Test bow off the bench in Brisbane for what is his only cap to date. There will surely be more to follow in the years to come. Joseph\u2019s graceful running style in midfield is eerily reminiscent of his older brother\u2019s. Both came through the Millfield School system.<\/p>\n<p>Sir Gareth Edwards, Huw Jones and Callum Sheedy are rugby internationals who were also educated at Millfield. So too were Aston Villa\u2019s Tyrone Mings and Formula One star Lando Norris.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018A lot of people say that,\u2019 Joseph says of comparisons with his brother. \u2018The way we both run is very similar. We\u2019re brothers and we play the same position. It\u2019s probably just genetics!<\/p>\n<p>\u2018In the changing room at Millfield they have a plaque with a list of all the top players who have played in your position. In mine, there was my brother and Huw. They\u2019ve had some real talent come through that school. It\u2019s something you want to follow in the footsteps of.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Joseph was in his house choir at Millfield. He downplays his singing ability, but is certainly hitting the right notes with Harlequins. His form so far this season has meant his new team hasn\u2019t missed Joe Marchant too badly after his move to Stade Francais.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776277-12845731-This_weekend_Joseph_will_come_up_against_fellow_England_star_and-a-87_1702156263044.jpg\" height=\"425\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>This weekend Joseph will come up against fellow England star and former team-mate Henry Arundell of Racing 92<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/1s\/2023\/12\/09\/21\/78776811-12845731-image-m-97_1702157066871.jpg\" height=\"627\" width=\"634\"><\/p>\n<p>Arundell has made an impressive start to live at his new club, already scoring a hat-trick<\/p>\n<p>Joseph marked his England debut with a post-match rendition of Beyonce\u2019s Halo. \u2018It was a tough one to choose,\u2019 he says. \u2018But I think it went down alright.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>After scoring twice in a hammering of Sale last weekend, Joseph will be looking to continue his impressive development against tough French opposition in Europe. He was part of England\u2019s preparations for the World Cup earlier this year but didn\u2019t make Steve Borthwick\u2019s final squad, unlike his close friend Arundell. Both young men will undoubtedly be key figures for England in the next four-year cycle but are on opposite sides on Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Henry is an incredible player. I\u2019m sure wherever he\u2019ll be he\u2019ll be pulling up trees. He\u2019s smashing it,\u2019 Joseph says. \u2018My goal is to keep starting and winning game with Harlequins.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I\u2019d like to try to be involved with England too. I\u2019m very lucky I\u2019ve managed to find a new club and I\u2019m still doing the job I love.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugbyunion\/article-12845731\/Quins-no-brainer-despite-rivalry-JOSEPH.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EXCLUSIVE Quins move was a no-brainer&#8230; despite rivalry with Irish!\u00a0There was only one deal WILL JOSEPH wanted when his old club folded last summer, and he still has his sights set on England London Irish folded last summer but Joseph was snapped up by Harlequins He will go toe-to-toe with another English talent, Henry Arundell, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298876,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Quins move was no-brainer!\u00a0There was only one deal WILL JOSEPH wanted - Sports Life Tale<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/rugby-union\/quins-move-was-no-brainer-there-was-only-one-deal-will-joseph-wanted\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Quins move was no-brainer!\u00a0There was only one deal WILL JOSEPH wanted - Sports Life Tale\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"EXCLUSIVE Quins move was a no-brainer&#8230; 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