Skinner relishing being Quins skipper again

WILL Skinner is not daunted about taking the Harlequins captaincy on again – as he believes he will be skippering a team full of leaders.

Chris Robshaw's call-up to captain England for the Six Nations means Skinner will be given back an armband he first wore in his second year at Quins four years ago – making him the youngest captain in the Premiership at the time.

Now a more matured 27 year old, Skinner is itching to lead his troops into battle once more as they look get their LV= Cup campaign back on track at Cardiff Blues on Sunday.

He said: “I'm really looking forward to being captain again, but to be honest, the guys here make it easy for me – it's a whole team of captains really. Everyone likes to set an example by what they say and do on the pitch.

“For Robbo (Robshaw), that second cap has been a long time coming, and he will make an excellent England captain. He's still a young lad, but you wouldn't guess it from looking at him, and he captains us superbly here.”

Skinner himself has played for England at every level, including Sevens and Saxons, aside from winning a full cap, but added: “I haven't given up on winning a full cap, but I need to concentrate on getting into the Quins side regularly first.”

Robshaw's absence opens up another place at flanker, and Chris York, as well as Skinner, will be hoping to stake a claim for a more regular place in the side.

Skinner said: “The guys who have been playing there this season have done superbly. Yorky has taken his chances when he's had them, and Luke Wallace is keeping me out of the side!”

Having won their first two LV= Cup games, Quins' semi-final hopes hang by a thread after coming unstuck 19-9 at home to Leicester last Saturday, but face a struggling Cardiff side.

Skinner added: “Cardiff will always put a tough side out, and I think we lost last time we played there a few years ago, so we are taking nothing for granted.

“I'll admit it hurt losing to my former team. I never like losing to Leicester, even though there are only a couple of players left there from my time there.”