'Born to play at this level' - Care on rising star Friday

Twenty years separate Lucas Friday and Danny Care.

Former Harlequins scrum-half Care, 39, played 101 times for England and trotted out against Exeter Chiefs to mark his 395th and final club appearance last May.

Instead of signing an experienced scrum-half, Quins opted to bring through teenager Friday - who at that stage had only three minutes of top-flight rugby under his belt.

But it was a fitting passing of the guard as Mike Friday - Lucas' father and former England sevens coach - played a key role in Care's early career development.

"It feels like a full circle moment as Lucas' father Mike was my mentor from 16-20 in the junior national academy pathway and he picked me to play for England sevens," Care told BBC Sport.

"Mike used to come and do a load of passing and kicking drills with me. He passed on his knowledge to me, fast forward 20 years later and I was doing the same for his son.

"It was a bit weird but in a nice way, a passing of the torch. It was nice that I could help as this guy's father had given me so much.

"In a cathartic way it did play a little bit of a factor in my retirement as I knew you've got to let this kid fly now."

Diminutive in stature but lightning quick with a bullet pass, the 19-year-old reminds Care of himself as a promising teenager.

The talent was undeniable but Friday's willingness to learn shone through as he would wait for senior training to finishing before racing onto the pitch to do extra kicking practice.

"Post sessions they may not have wanted to do, or maybe had other things to do, but they [Harlequins senior scrum-halves Care and Will Porter] took the time to help develop me," Friday told BBC Sport.

"I always wanted to ask questions and once they engaged back with me, it gave me more confidence. They might not have been so happy with the amount I asked.

"It would be technical questions on passing and what went well for him [Care] and what didn't go well.

"Kicking technique is another thing and finding that consistency.

"I want to be the best I can in every single skill as I want to master and perfect it."

An injury saw Friday called up as a 17-year-old to England's winning Under-20 World Championship squad in 2024, where he came off the bench in the final against France.

Having then made his league debut the following season against Newcastle, the scrum-half was primed to star for England at under age level.

Disaster then stuck in the third round of the Under-20 Six Nations as he tore his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

"It was very daunting not knowing what is going to happen but I got support from my dad and brother who have had ACL injuries," Friday added.

"I came back in nine and a half months which gave me good time to develop physically in my lower and upper body with power and strength.

"It was all hard. At the start it is all about small wins and you don't feel like you are making that much progress very early on."

He returned against Gloucester in November and has since become a regular for Harlequins.

One of his impressive starts came in the Investec Champions Cup, with Quins' away win over La Rochelle booking a home last-16 game.

"Big players have to step up away in Europe, especially in France, you have to show if you have got it or not," Care added.

"From the off, Lucas looked so comfortable and it looked like he had been playing at that level for years.

"My first few professional games had way more mistakes. Lucas looked so controlled and measured, it was like Morgan Parra was out there in terms of the left-footed nine with dominance, who will run the game.

"He looked born to play at that level. That was the moment I thought he had arrived and is ready."

Friday's first top-flight start came against England scrum-half Alex Mitchell, where he saw up close how to deal with calmness in pressure situations - another skill he is looking to perfect.

He started four games in a row alongside England fly-half Marcus Smith, with one of those games coming against another England scrum-half in Jack van Poortvliet.

Whoever he plays against, Smith wants Friday to express himself.

"Marcus gives me so much confidence on the pitch as he says he'll back whatever decision I want to make," he added.

"It gives me the chance to do what I want to do."

Last month Friday linked back up with England for his second Under-20 Six Nations, but this time as one of the team's experienced stars.

A sharp break and kick through helped set up the opening try against Scotland - the game he tore his ACL in last year - as he continues to be a stand-out performer.

Defeat by Ireland ended a potential Grand Slam but championship hopes remain alive with games against Italy and France to come.

Friday says he has been inspired by playing alongside senior internationals Henry Pollock and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, who he played with at Under-20 level.

As one of a number of exciting young England scrum-halves, Friday will next be aiming to emulate Care and Ben Youngs, who dominated the international shirt for well over a decade.

"There is five or six scrum-halves in England who could be battling it out for years," Care added.

"I would love that to be Lucas purely because of the Quins connection and what his father did for me.

"All these young boys can do is keep knocking on the door and when they get an opportunity they have to be ready to take it to the next level. I am sure Lucas will be."