As Doncaster, club and town, gears up for its biggest game ever onSunday when the all star Harlequins come to Castle Park, one man in particular has a special interest in the match. Rob Liley, Doncaster’s captain, played for the Quins at their peak and looks forward to renewing old acquaintances. Here he reflects on his time at Quins and on their current situation compared to Doncaster, in conversation with Allan MacGregor.

When were you at Quins

I played 3 seasons at Quins from 1997-2000 making 50 appearances and scoring 256 points.

I had Keith Wood as my skipper and played alongside Will Carling, Thierry Lacroix, Laurent Cabannes, Jason Leonard, Zinzan Brooke, John Schuster, Tony Diprose and Dan Luger during my time there.

Lasting memories? I did keep Thierry Lacroix out of the side at the end of season 1998-9 for the last 3 months until I smashed my nose at Saracens. I was also Zinzan Brooke's no 10 in what was to be his last competitive game that he played in first class rugby - v Wasps at Loftus Road. A phenomenal player who had the ability to drop goals, make 30 yard passes and destroy players in the tackle!

Quins then and now? During my time Quins were the stereotypical flamboyant side that constantly under-achieved. One season we would finish in the top 4, play a Qtr final in the European Cup and then the next we would be avoiding relegation. I learnt a huge amount from Will Carling, Thierry and Jason - Will was a fantastic player to have outside you and Jason had the most down to earth attitude to playing and training - despite being the most capped England forward and an England regular. I think that it was inevitable that Quins would drop down eventually, and it is probably the best thing that has happened to the club. I am sure that they will have had a hard long look at redefining what club they want to be and what it takes to be successful in the Premiership.

Thoughts on their current squad? The only people I really know at Quins now are people I played with during my time at Leicester Tigers - Dean Richards and Will Greenwood. I played with Will ("shaggy") in a successful North of England team that won the Divisional Championship in 1995-6, and we also had a fantastic time at Leicester Tigers together - reaching the European Cup Final where we lost to Brive at Cardiff Arms Park. He is a wonderfully naturally gifted player and a very charismatic person to have in the dressing room. The banter between him and Austin Healy was like being in the primary school playground again!! Dean Richards was also playing in that same Tigers team. As a player, it was a big advantage having his laid-back yet unflappable belief in the rugby we played. Deano was a very pragmatic and committed player and I am sure that that doggedness is being instilled into the current Harlequins side - which will serve them well when they return to the Premiership. I also played England A with Tony Diprose who is about the only current Quins player who was there when I was. Still a terrific player.

How did you find your way to Quins? Dick Best and Andy Keast were responsible for me joining Quins from the Tigers - and they left the club shortly after due to poor results that season. In my first season also Thierry Lacroix regained his international form for France again and Will Carling left the club after a fall-out, only to rejoin us a year later! It was quite a roller-coaster ride at Quins during my time, with coaches coming and going, international players not delivering, and a general lack of real team spirit made it quite a challenging time there. However, I probably learnt more at Quins than at any other stage of my career - both good and bad! It was a colourful place to be!

Life after Quins? After leaving full-time professional rugby at Quins in 2000, I rejoined my home club, Wakefield, for 2 seasons in National One before joining Doncaster in 2002.

What brought to Doncaster My brother John was playing here at the time and had always spoken very highly of Doncaster; and when the Bradford Bulls took over Wakefield (which finally put the nail in the coffin for my home club), Derek Eves persuaded me to join Doncaster. I have always respected what John has achieved in his rugby career and knew that if he was enjoying Doncaster then it was a good club to join. It was only the second time that we had played in the same team together - previously at Leicester Tigers season 1996-7 - and unfortunately it was the last!

Highlights of your time here?

I have enjoyed all of my four seasons but the real highlight has to be winning the National Division 2 Championship last year with such a squad of talented players. I was proud to lead a team that knew how to play and enjoy great rugby, whilst showing real team spirit when needed eg coming from behind to beat Nuneaton away with only 14 men. Receiving the Supporters’ Player of the Year award was a huge surprise to me but a great honour. The Doncaster supporters have been some of the most vocal and dedicated followers I have been involved with during my career and their support for the players was a significant part of the club's success last year. It is rare that a player has the chance to lead such an exciting group of players at such an exciting time in a club's history. I was lucky to have had the chance to make such a contribution to that success and I will always be grateful for my time at Doncaster.

Despite the result last week at Coventry, I was pleased to have become the club's leading league points scorer during the game (with 932 points) - overtaking my brother (929 points). It would be great to reach 1000.

Thoughts on the Doncaster Club?

I said to the players at the start of the season that this was a special place to be. It still is and will continue to be so in the future. Why? The club is led by a management team that passionately believe in the club and its potential. They are Doncaster men and they are rugby men who will ensure that everything that happens at the club is done for the good of Doncaster RFC. The facilities are some of the best at this level which will continue to attract quality players and loyal supporters to the club. Combine this with the fanatical and knowledgeable following from the supporters, who will travel the length of the country to support their team, means that it is a fantastic club to be part of for any player who has great ambitions and who wants to be part of a success. I will always remember my playing time at Doncaster as a special time - for both the on-the-pitch achievements and the off-the-field support I have received.

What does it take to be a credible challenger at the top end of National One?

Doncaster needs to continue being the club it has been to date- a true rugby club for the Doncaster people, with an ambition to be the best. For the last 15 years, each season has been an improvement on the previous but each time it reaches a new level, the challenge becomes greater. It is important for everyone at the club to keep believing in what is being achieved and remain patient. Many clubs have suffered from expecting too much too soon and that has been their downfall.

I am a great believer in Doncaster keeping and nurturing its own identity - one that is a fiercely competitive northern club that has a reputation for playing good but tough rugby. This will ensure that opponents at whatever level will not relish coming to play at Doncaster. At the same time, a real attraction of the club is its family-orientated & friendly welcome to all visitors - this is what will keep the heart beating strong at Doncaster RFC. I have no doubt that Doncaster will continue to be a success.

You have always said you would retire at the end of this season. Still the case? Yes - I am listening to my body for a change! This is my last season as a player. The season has been disappointingly short as a result of breaking my ankle pre season at Sale and it will need further surgery at the end of the season, I believe. For the moment it is holding out.

Finishing with rugby altogether?

Rugby has always been a big part of my life and I could not move away from it completely. I plan to become a qualified coach after the season ends and I am keen to continue to use what I have learned as a player and captain to contribute to rugby. I feel that I have gained a huge amount of experience throughout my rugby playing days and my business career and I feel that a club would benefit greatly from this experience. I believe strongly that there is a great crossover between sport and business. I know that lessons I have learnt from leading a sales & marketing team at work (I am Business Development Director for a customer service outsourcing company in Leeds) can be successfully applied to the development of a sporting team. And vice versa. My rugby is also a big part of my family's life and I know that they would support whatever decisions I make in the future. Pamela and the two girls, Antonia and Harriet, will see more of me, though!

Final thought?

This season has not been as successful as any of us would have liked and we have been hampered by a lot of injuries so far. The players will take responsibility for the performances from now until the end of the season and we will work hard on doing the basic rugby skills as well as we can and to nurture a team spirit that is the best in the league. With this alone we can ease our way away from the drop zone and create an ideal foundation for a successful climb up the division next season.

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