Harlequins today announced that Louis Rainer will be leaving the club at the end of this season to pursue his international ambitions, playing for Italy.
A member of the Quins family since his Under-13 days, Raina has made a huge impact since breaking into the first team, scoring 27 tries in 58 first-team games. His departure marks a new chapter as he joins URC side Benetton Rugby for the upcoming 2024/25 season.
Raina’s journey with Harlequins has been marked by unforgettable moments, including his senior debut in 2019 and an outstanding 2020/21 season in which he played 11 games and scored six tries. His contribution was crucial for Quins in winning the Gallagher Premiership title, highlighted by impressive performances in both the semi-final against Bristol Bears and the final, where he scored two goals. .
The 23-year-old was born in Treviso, the club where his famous father Michael Reiner played in the 90s.
Harlequins Director of Rugby Billy Millard said: “Louis is a pleasure to work with and we are proud to watch him develop from the academy to the first team. He has certainly had some great moments in his short career so far. He has some experience under his belt and is a popular figure across the club. In particular, in the 2020/21 season he showed his ability and try-scoring ability. We hope his career continues at Benetton and potentially I look forward to seeing him develop further in Italy and wish him the best of luck as he looks to build his career there.”
Ahead of his departure, Raina added: “It was a difficult decision to leave my boyhood club, but I feel the time is right to take on a new challenge in Italy. I have loved my time at Quins, made lifelong friends and I worked with the best players, coaches and staff to achieve ultimate success in the Premiership in 2021. I would like to thank all the Quins fans who have supported me throughout my career. , it’s great to play in front of a packed Stoop every week and I can’t wait to finish the season on a high note.”
Raina will join former Premiership players Andy Woolen, Jacob Umaga and Paolo Odogwu at Treviso.