Opportunity taken.

Former Munster scrum-half Jack Stafford has joined English Premiership side Harlequins on a short-term deal after impressing while on trial.

The 23-year-old departed Munster earlier this year and will now compete for a spot in Quins team with England international Danny Care. Argentinian Martin Landajo, and Scotland U20 halfback Scott Steele.

Stafford joins for the remainder of the 2019/20 season and potentially beyond after impressing during a two-week trial period.

Former Munster forwards coach Jerry Flannery, who now works with Quins, no doubt played a role in bringing Stafford in.

Commenting on his move to The Stoop, Stafford said:

“You get an opportunity like this, you’re dropped in at a top club like Harlequins and you’ve an opportunity to improve yourself, and that’s exactly what I want to do. I’m over the moon to be here, it’s brilliant.

“I’ve kinda been in limbo the last couple of months, trying to keep fit, hope for an opportunity, and when this opportunity came about I was delighted and ready to grab it. I’m delighted to be here.

“It’s a young, ambitious group here, which is great. There’s a real competitive edge, a desire to win. And then you’ve got crazy experience in the backline and all across the backline.”

Commenting on Stafford’s arrival, Head of Rugby Paul Gustard said:

“In specialist positions you require strength depth to manage injury, illness and form – and there aren’t many positions more specialist than scrum-half. With the unexpected retirement of Niall Saunders we were left short in that position with only Martin and DC contracted with the Club.

“We were delighted to get Scotty [Scott Steele] in earlier this summer, a player we have admired for some time and who has been fantastic, but we felt we needed someone else to add to that group.

“Jerry [Flannery] knows Jack very well from Munster, he’s a tenacious, competitive, talkative nine with all the characteristics of what some would consider a typical Munster environment – he wants to compete, wants the challenge and he wants to win.

“As a person he has a great aptitude to learn and is very coachable. He’s got a decent core skillset and has a desire to improve his game.

“Welcome to the Club, Jack!”