Harlequins lock departs club after seven years

Lewies arrived at The Stoop ahead of the 2019/20 campaign and has since become one of the most respected figures in the Harlequins squad. Across all competitions, the lock has made 88 appearances, establishing himself as a powerful presence in the engine room and a leader within the forward pack.

In November 2020, Lewies was appointed club captain, succeeding Chris Robshaw. His tenure in the role coincided with one of the most memorable periods in Harlequins’ history.

He led the side through the remarkable 2020/21 Gallagher Premiership season, which culminated in a dramatic 40–38 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Twickenham — the highest-scoring Premiership final ever — as Quins secured their second league title. Lewies started that historic final and lifted the trophy alongside vice-captain Alex Dombrandt and club legend Mike Brown.

Although he stepped down from the captaincy ahead of the 2024/25 season, handing over to Dombrandt, Lewies has remained an influential figure within the leadership group. His impact continued on the European stage in April 2024 when he captained Harlequins to their first-ever knockout victory in the Champions Cup with a win over Glasgow Warriors.

A week later, he again led the side as they reached their first Champions Cup semi-final, defeating Bordeaux-Bègles 42–41 away from home in the quarter-finals. Domestically, he produced a standout performance in the Big Summer Kick Off at Twickenham Stadium against Northampton Saints, scoring a try, setting up another and preventing a certain score in a 41–32 victory.

Despite relinquishing the armband, Lewies committed his future to the Club in December 2024 by signing a contract extension, keeping him at The Stoop for at least a seventh season. During that period, he revealed he had come close to retirement the previous year following a series of injuries, making his continued contributions all the more significant. In February 2025, he marked his return to the scoresheet with his first try of the season in a Premiership Cup clash against Saracens.

Internationally, Lewies’ career includes Springbok honours. He made his Test debut for South Africa in June 2014, replacing Victor Matfield in a dominant 55–6 victory over Scotland in Port Elizabeth. He was also selected for a South Africa ‘A’ side in 2016, starting in their opening match of a two-game series against England Saxons.

“I reflect on my seven years at the Club with a huge amount of gratitude. I arrived at the Club in 2019 with a few suitcases and a girlfriend, I’m leaving the Club with a lot of memories, new friends, a wife and baby,” said Lewies

“My time at Quins has been unbelievable. It’s hard to put it into words really and say thank you enough, but gratitude is the word that comes to mind and a lot of pride as well.

“The aim for this season is to finish on a high. If there is one Club that has proven they can turn it around, it is Harlequins and I believe we can do that. It started against the Stormers at the weekend, and we’ve got another big game against La Rochelle on Sunday.

“On a personal level, my slogan for the rest of the season is to ‘empty the tank’ and give everything I have to the Quins jersey, whether that’s on or off the pitch. I just want to give my all and make everyone proud.”

Senior Coach Jason Gilmore added: “We wish Steph, Ash and their family all the best as they return back home to South Africa. Steph has been central to the Club both as a player and Captain, including the run to the 2020/21 title.

“His physical presence, leadership and demanding of standards are traits that he instils every day into the Club and will continue for the rest of the season.

“We will miss having Steph’s presence at the Club, but we know he has left a positive legacy for the next wave of Harlequins to come through.”