Twickenham matches 'huge honour' for Harlequins
Luke Northmore has scored two tries in five matches for Harlequins this season
- Published
In the shadow of England's iconic home of rugby union, Harlequins hold a unique position in the sport.
As has become tradition, the south west London club will make the incredibly short journey across Cherstey Road to host their Christmastime home league match at Twickenham Stadium when they face Bristol Bears on Saturday.
The event draws huge crowds every year and has evolved to a point where there are live music performances and events outside the ground. And the on-pitch action includes a double header of the women's team followed by the men's, with Bristol the opponents in both matches.
Senior coach Jason Gilmore will lead the men's team on their traditional walk from The Stoop across to the main stadium for the first time, having taken over from Danny Wilson at the beginning of the season, and described it as a special occasion for the club.
"We always get a really big crowd. The club put on a really good show for this game, the boys are really excited for it," he told BBC Radio London.
"They always get up for it, which is really important. Bristol's a great team, so it's going to be a great spectacle."
It has become tradition for Harlequins players to walk from The Stoop to Twickenham Stadium each time they play at the national stadium, as they did before the Premiership final in 2021
Quins go into the game with only Gloucester and Newcastle Red Bulls below them in the Prem table, having picked up two wins from six games.
They ran in 10 tries in a dominant win in the European Champions Cup over Bayonne on Sunday.
Gilmore makes three changes to the pack from that game, with Harry Williams in for Pedro Delgado at prop, Kieran Treadwell replacing Stephan Lewies at lock and Zach Carr coming into the back row in place of Will Evans.
Marcus Smith, who kicked nine successful conversions against Bayonne, will continue at fly-half.
Luke Northmore, who has scored two tries in five appearances this season, will start again at centre for the hosts.
"It's a huge honour to be able to play in these big fixtures and the games that come around, it's amazing," Northmore said.
"The club can put these games on to have both men's and women's playing over at the Allianz Stadium this weekend so it's really special to be involved in and I'm really excited."
First Harlequins start for Wafer
Ireland international Aoife Wafer is set to make her first start for Harlequins against Bristol Bears
Before the men take to the field at 18:00 GMT, the women will carry out their own walk over from The Stoop at 13:35.
The Prem Women's Rugby match will then kick off at 15:05, with the men walking across to the stadium at 16:30.
Electronic duo Groove Armada will then perform in front of a packed house before the Prem fixture closes the evening.
Head coach Ross Chisholm has given a first start to Ireland international Aoife Wafer at number eight, after joining the club from Leicester.
England's Ellie Kildunne, who was nominated for Thursday's Sports Personality of the Year award won by Rory McIlroy, starts at full-back, with Scotland captain Jade Konkel in the second row.
"Really excited. It's not every day that you get to play in Twickenham as an Irish person and to be able to play there with Quins is obviously extremely special as well," Wafer said.
"I've only heard good things even about the walk over and how much support we get as a side as well, so I'm really excited to hopefully play and hopefully get a big win to go into the new year."
