Harlequins triumph over Exeter Chiefs 24-22 in emotional farewell for Danny Care

Harlequins produced a spirited display to overcome Exeter Chiefs 24–22 in a tightly contested Premiership encounter at Twickenham Stoop, marking a fitting farewell for Danny Care in his final home appearance for the club.

In a game charged with emotion, Quins held their nerve in the final minutes to deliver a memorable victory in front of a passionate home crowd.

Harlequins came flying out of the blocks, setting an early tone that matched the occasion. Cadan Murley opened the scoring in the third minute, crossing out wide after a flowing backline move. Marcus Smith added the conversion, and the energy inside the stadium surged.

The lead was soon extended as Will Porter found a gap and dotted down for Harlequins’ second try at the 20-minute mark. Another accurate conversion from Smith pushed the score to 14–0. With their attack humming and defence holding firm, Quins looked determined to send off Care in style.

But Exeter Chiefs are nothing if not resilient. Rus Tuima hit back quickly in the 22nd minute with a try from a strong carry off the back of a scrum.

Not long after, Tommy Wyatt added a second try, slicing through the Quins’ defence to bring the visitors within touching distance. Both scores were converted by Henry Slade, and suddenly the momentum had shifted.

Quins still clung to a narrow lead, but a Slade penalty in the 63rd minute nudged Exeter ahead 22–21 and set up a tense final quarter.

With the match in the balance, it was Marcus Smith who rose to the moment. In the 60th minute, the fly-half collected the ball just outside the 22 and danced his way through the Chiefs’ defence with sublime footwork to score a breathtaking solo try. He added the conversion, reclaiming the lead for Harlequins.

A 71st-minute penalty from Smith further stretched the margin to 24–22, giving the home side a slender cushion going into the closing stages.

With just over 15 minutes left, Danny Care made his final appearance at the Stoop, entering to a standing ovation. His 394th match for Harlequins was always going to be special, and the atmosphere reflected that.

In the dying moments, as Exeter pushed for a last chance, it was Care who gathered the final ball and booted it into touch—ending the game and ensuring his final home appearance concluded with victory.

In doing so, he turned down a potential bonus-point opportunity, choosing instead to savour the moment and the win.

Though the win wasn’t enough to push Harlequins into the playoff picture, it encapsulated the club’s spirit and honoured one of its greatest ever players with the send-off he deserved.