The Spurs of Prem Rugby: how Harlequins lost their swagger

Harlequins rugby club are struggling with deep-rooted problems, described as defensive fragility and a loss of confidence, drawing comparisons to Tottenham Hotspur's perpetual underachievement in football. Marcus Smith's return from injury offers some hope, but the club's pre-season target of emulating Exeter's turnaround from ninth place to finalists appears increasingly distant. Supporters are concerned that references to past glories, including their 2021 Premiership title won from seventh place in January, are masking the true extent of the club's current difficulties.