Symons: Joe will grow Down Under

JOE Marchant’s Super Rugby experience with the Auckland Blues will lay the platform for him to become an England regular, says Harlequins lock Matt Symons.

- NEALE HARVEY

Marchant, 23, travelled Down Under in December and impressed in his first five games for the Blues before the season was interrupted by the pandemic.

With Super Rugby’s New Zealand franchises set to resume play on June 13, the midfielder will see more game time before returning to Harlequins in July.

Marchant’s move to the southern hemisphere was approved by England head coach Eddie Jones.

“We only had a brief conversation, but he was really supportive,” Marchant said. “He thought it would be a good idea, that the experience of playing on the other side of the world and that kind of rugby would be really good

“Everyone just goes for it here, the play is a lot looser and there is a big emphasis on keeping the ball alive. There was a ten-minute period in a pre-season game when the ball was constantly in play. I almost died. It was fun, but it was so much running.