Exiles getting a special Guest
London Irish have announced the signing of Harlequins back row forward Tom Guest on a two-year deal.
The versatile 29 year-old forward is a graduate of the Harlequins Academy and has made over 200 appearances for the club.
He was part of the Harlequins squad that won the 2012 Premiership title at Twickenham against Leicester Tigers and the 2011 European Cup against Stade Francais in Cardiff.
Born in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, Guest has previously been around the England Sevens set up and has also had success with the England Saxons, winning the Churchill Cup in 2008.
London Irish Director of Rugby, Brian Smith, admits Guest is a player he has admired for some time and is delighted he is joining for the next two seasons.
"Tom is a title-winning Premiership player with a wealth of experience who has bought into what we want to achieve at this club. He will be a great addition to our club for two next seasons and yet another key player in London Irish's aspirations to challenge for silverware in the future.”
Commenting on his decision to sign for London Irish, Guest said: "I have spent over a decade at Harlequins and have enjoyed every minute of it. Winning the Premiership in 2012 and the Amlin Cup in 2011 are certainly the standout moments. It is a great club with great people and I will leave with many fond memories and friends too.
“Moving to London Irish offers a new challenge and I am relishing being part of the new exciting vision that my new club expounds. There is still plenty of rugby to be played this season before moving to Sunbury and that will be my immediate focus.”
Harlequins Director of Rugby Conor O'Shea commented: "Tom has been one of Harlequins' great servants having recently celebrated his 200th game.
"I know he is committed to going out on a high this season with the club that will always be his. We would love to have kept Tom for his entire career but the nature of managing a squad within the imposed salary cap regulations involves both accounting for the players you already have and developing personnel within each position.”
