HARLEQUINS hero Rory Clegg has thanked Jonny Wilkinson for making him the player hailed by Quins boss John Kingston as the future of the club.

The 19-year-old summer capture from Newcastle Falcons nailed a crucial last-minute penalty to earn Quins a 9-9 draw with London Irish on Saturday. And Clegg reckons his new side will reap the benefits of his apprenticeship under England World Cup hero Wilkinson.

He said: "When Jonny Wilkinson was fit, I did a lot of work with him on my kicking.

"In fact, even when he was injured and on crutches he came out and spent a lot of time helping me.

"But you pick up different things up from different people, and here I have learned a lot by watching Nick Evans play and train.

"If Nick's fit, I fully expect him to start because he's a great player, but if I get an opportunity when he's injured or he's played at full back, I'll be happy to slot in."

Clegg will be getting more opportunities than he thinks if the praise coming his way from Kingston is anything to go by.

The Quins boss was impressed by the way Clegg kept his chin up when things went against him against Irish, and Worcester the week before.

Kingston said: "It was during a period when things were going against him. He got a knock as well and must have been feeling pretty low at that point, but bounced back superbly." **Quins take on the Scarlets in the Anglo-Welsh Cup at The Stoop on Sunday.