Gale's got potential but IMO struggled to convince anyone at Quins RL that he's a top 8 quality stand-off. His defence desperately needs work but I reckon Potter's the sort of guy who could coax good stuff out of him, as he did with Thomas Bosc.

I'm not terribly cut up about this because, assuming we can keep hold of him, Dan Sarginson is our future 6 and he's shown just as much promise as Gale at the age of 18.

Wasn't Gale under contract until 2012? Paying transfer fees isn't usually our style...

To be fair, Quins started the season well and a lot of people were bigging up Gale at that point.

Only played two games together and both games Briggs didnt play well.

I read this in the "Sporting life" report, under the heading "Gale blow for Harlequins"

"he 23-year-old half-back has been in outstanding form for the Stoop-based club, registering 160 points this season.
However Leeds-born Gale will return to Yorkshire next year after agreeing terms with the Bulls.

"Luke is a player we have had our eye on for some time and I am delighted he has chosen to join us," said Bulls coach Mick Potter.
"He can run the team around the park, has a great kicking game and will be a great addition to our squad for the next two years."

Now, even allowing for the play on words in the title, all that sort of reads quite positive for the Bulls?

I'm not as up to speed on Gale as some others, but my understanding has always been that he is a pretty decent player. I suspect probably the best of the available Brits, and from Yorkshire too. Whether he is the messiah half-back so many are awaiting, well I guess we will just have to see. I fear there are some folk who have been awaiting some kind of Second Coming to get us out of the shìt of the last three seasons; but without a sugar daddy and his mates, and with the incredible strength of their currencies AND the increasing salary cap down there, I suggest it was looking hard to see that coming from the antipodes?

Seems to me we have snapped up one of the best British half back prospects, and that should be seen as pretty positive. I hope no-one with any sense of realities slags the lad off before he has even pulled on a shirt. We were never likely to be able to recruit a world-class aussie, signing Pryce would have been a very interim measure at best IMO, so I think have probably done the next best thing. He'll certainly have my full support.

This does surely suggest the - of late much-improved - Herbert is the one to be on his way, to free up a quota spot? May be a case of the improvement coming too late? Although where does that leave Briggs? And Southernwood? Still a lot of unanswered questions regarding who plays in the halves next year (recognising we MUST have cover) and where?

Is he definetley a scrum half? I thought he played stand off sometimes.

If he will play scrum half I am happy but not delighted. He has looked good in attack and most of quins look poor in defence. the key is that we NEED a scrum half and id much rather have gale than nobody, or one of our current crop playing out of position. That being said, he needs to up his defence and cut out errors, but im stuggling to think of any better options, other than Bosc who I would have loved to have signed.

Think ME is onto something. I've been convinced for a while that the moderators are all shapeshifting lizards.

Back on topic though. Not seen a huge amount of Luke Gale so I'll reserve judgement. The press release says he's coming in as a scrum half, is that where he's been playing at Quins?

I think/hope he'll replace Briggs, I've liked what I've seen from Herbert recently and the grit he's shown from the start. Hopefully Paul's info on the 2 year deal comes true.

Thoroughly underwhelmed.

We obviously decided we didn't have quite enough mediocre half backs - so we went and got another.

Luke Gale's never going to win anything.

Luke Gale is a better signing, the sort we should be aiming for.

Super news,

I'm pleased with the news tbh.

He's very highly regarded by some in the rugby media and seems to be an improvement on what we have already (i.e. Herbert)

Don't think we should be dropping Jefferies though. He's been by far the best half back this year even though he only joined half way throught the season and would provide some experience to Gale's youth and enthusiasm.

You must be one hell of an uplifting bloke to be in the company of?

Don't know much about Luke to be honest, but if the coach thinks he's the bloke then I'll go along with that. Looks like Herbert will be the one to leave, afaik he's the only half who is occ at the end of the season so it narrows it down a bit.

His stats this season look good tho not as good defensively as Herbert, its his attacking play thats important anyway. And how he fits in with the rest of the team, As always we need to see the bigger picture.

For those underwhelmed, who were they hoping for?

Previously clubs have signed halves with patchy, lower league records - Long for Saints, Brough and Robinson for Hudds off the top of my head - and those players have kicked on.

Gale may or may not. But that he hasn't as yet does not conclude the argument.