Young Gun: Max Coyle – Harlequins full-back

Concussion may have cut his U18s Premier-ship final appearance short but Max Coyle is determined to create long-lasting memories from his final months as a schoolboy.
The 18-year-old started at full-back for Harlequins against Sale at Sixways last week but was forced off the field after just 11 minutes after being knocked out making a tackle.
Disappointed not to have helped Quins in their second-half comeback to clinch the title, the Reigate GS pupil was upset to have three weeks off with the England U18s season about to start.
However, he was quickly reassured by a call from John Fletcher to let him know he is still very much in the head coach’s plans.
“The timing of it is pretty annoying as we had an England camp in Leeds this week but I could only do the team meetings,” Coyle said.
“It’s mandatory for a player of my age to have two weeks completely off before I can go through the return to play protocol.
“We have three England games coming up in March so I was worried I wouldn’t be considered for selection because I couldn’t train with the squad. But I spoke to the coach and he told me he wanted to get me involved as soon as I was back fit.
“It’s so frustrating to have to have two weeks of doing nothing right now but I’ve got to do it if I want to be able to play against Wales and Scotland.
“I’m also going to miss our Schools Cup semi-final on Tuesday and our Sevens tournament. Hopefully, they’ll win and we get to play the final at Twickenham before trying to win the Rosslyn Park Sevens.
“Then there’ll be the Five Nations and the tour to South Africa with England so there’s a lot of rugby to be played over the next few months.
“It’d be a pretty good year if I manage to pull it all off.”
Coyle will leave Reigate Grammar this summer and he hopes to pick things up again with Quins by joining the club’s academy full-time.
He added: “Playing for Quins in the U18s Premiership was a good eye opener in terms of how the game is played at the highest level.
“Everything was so much faster than school rugby.
“Now the finals are out of the way I think Quins will be starting to look at who they’re keeping next season.
“I think I’ve given myself a good chance with how I played in the Academy league so, hopefully, I’ll be one of the lucky ones to get a contract.
“Playing in the Premiership Sevens last summer for them was just awesome. To turn out at the Ricoh Arena for the finals and to actually score was surreal.
“I’ve been at the club since I was 15 and I’ve always supported Quins growing up so I’d love to do that on a regular basis next season.”