"It wasn't the easiest route for us to secure a place in next season's Heineken Cup, and we didn't make it easy for ourselves, but we all believed it was where we should be and it couldn't have been achieved in a more dramatic way.

"I moved from Northampton Saints at the end of last season because I wasn't getting the rugby I wanted or needed. I met Conor and he sold the club to me amazingly well. He wanted to create a young and competitive squad and I wanted to be a part of it and establish myself as a first team player."

Joe has done just that and is now Quins' first choice hooker in an extremely competitive position. His playing ability has been praised by the critics and has earned him a place in this season's England Saxons squad:

" I was really chuffed when I got the call from Graham Rowntree and Stuart Lancaster and I am really excited about the games coming up in the Churchill Cup.

"It is a really young squad and I know at least 7 of them through playing the England age-groups. Of course it is also great to have my Quins team mates Mike Brown, Jordan Turner-Hall and Rory Clegg here with me."

Joe has previously played for England U18 and England U20. Three years ago he, alongside Quins team mate Jordan Turner-Hall, was part of the first England U20 side to get to a World Cup final.

It has been an impressive season for the 22 year old who has not only established himself as the Quins first choice hooker and finished the season with silverware, he was also named in the England side to face the Barbarians last Sunday at Twickenham. He now has the chance to impress in the England Saxons shirt.