Quins winger Charlie Walker reckons switching south is the best decision he ever made.
The 21-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, took his season’s try scoring tally to four with the second in Saturday’s 22-6 Big Game Six win over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham.
Walker is fast becoming hot property at the Stoop, but might have been doing the same at Leicester Tigers – but for a difference of opinion with the Welford Road coaching staff.
The Premiership champions had wanted Walker to quit Oakham School – where he was coached by former Leicester heroes Ian Smith and Glen Gelderbloom – to join another as part of their academy set-up.
Since turning the opportunity down the youngster’s career has gone from strength to strength, including captaining his school to a Daily Mail Cup final appearance.
Last season saw him enjoy a prolific spell at National Division One Esher and he has not looked back.
“I could not understand why Leicester wanted me to move, because I wasn’t going to get much better coaching than from the coaches I was working with,” he said.
“I did not think I’d enjoy things if I moved. If you are not enjoying it you are not going to play well, so I stayed at school and joined Quins full-time after I left.
“It was a tough decision, but it is the best decision I have ever made, with the club having won the Premiership, LV= Cup and A League since then.”
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