Harlequins hooker Buchanan has had a whirlwind season but he insists it won’t be complete without securing the Aviva Premiership title on May 26.
HARLEQUINS hooker Rob Buchanan has had a whirlwind season but he insists it won’t be complete unless the Stoop outfit secure a first-ever Aviva Premiership title at Twickenham on May 26 against Leicester.
The 21-year-old was playing in the fourth tier of English rugby last season with Ealing but has taken advantage of injuries in the hooking ranks this season to break into Quins’ first-team squad.
He made his first start for Quins against the Tigers in January’s LV= Cup clash and played all 80 minutes when Leicester came to the Stoop in the Aviva Premiership at the end of April.
On that occasion the Tigers came out on top 43-33 in a cracking encounter, but Buchanan is anxious to reverse the trend when the two meet in ten days’ time.
“Everyone is chuffed to bits,” said Buchanan, speaking at a Rugby Players’ Association charity bake-off in Holborn.
“We all know we have a job to do and we all can’t wait for it. It’s absolutely huge.
“It’s been a couple of weeks since we played Leicester, they will have improved but so have we, it could even be a better than last time. It was a good game last time. There are things we can work on and have been working on.
“It’s been an amazing year. There was no way at the beginning of the year that I thought I would be anywhere near a Premiership final, I thought I might be watching. Just to sit on the bench for a Premiership final would be incredible.
“Three years ago I was watching as a schoolkid, thinking ‘Oh my god’ so I cannot believe it. I can’t wait.”
Buchanan will be joining the rest of the Quins squad in taking a well-earned week off to recharge the batteries before starting their preparation for their first Premiership final.
And for Buchanan May 26 will also represent his first taste of Twickenham, but he is confident neither he nor the Quins side will be overawed by the occasion.
He added: “I’ve never played at Twickenham before so that is something. It will be a full house and a recipe for a great day.
“This week should be quite easy. It’s been a long season and then back into training next week.
“We are all just really excited to be there and now we have to perform on the day.”
Book your tickets to the Aviva Premiership Rugby Final at Twickenham on Saturday, 26 May at www.ticketmaster.co.uk or 0844 847 2492.
