Mark Evans
Before I embark upon this latest rant, I must make it perfectly clear that Harlequins v Leicester at HQ on 27 December has been met with disapprobation form most of the posters on Come All Within and rightly so.
Most Quins fans are unhappy that they are swapping the intimate cosiness of The Stoop for the wide open spaces of their old place, but restricted to a capacity of 50,000 for this particular game.
Quins CEO Mark Evans was his usual abrasive self when stating of his club's credentials as "London's Club" in rubbishing Wasps' use of the "L" word in their club title and stressing that London Irish and, of course, Saracens are no longer resident in Zones 1-6.
Forget the vulpine Evans's barbs about which club lays claim to the title of "London's Club", the crux of the matter is that Harlequins have moved this game so the club can make more money, and that flies in the face of their stance when it came to the London Double Header next weekend.
Harlequins were not prepared to give up a home game against Saracens (or Wasps or Irish, for that matter) as they wanted to protect their income which would, so they say, have been more if the game was played at The Stoop.
So this latest development, be it for financial gain, an enhanced opportunity to shift some merchandise, to pander to the gods at BSkyB, or any other reason, will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many a Quins fan, and attract howls of derision from followers of the three other clubs based inside the M25 for what will, no doubt, be seen as a blatant act of greed and hypocrisy.
Therefore next season, I fully expect Harlequins to fulfil their obligation to be the "home" team at the 2009 London Double header, given they have relinquished whatever advantage they may have against Leicester if the game were to be played at their regular home ground.
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