Nick Easter is going to be working on two rugby fronts this season, but he insists his main priority is Aviva Premiership glory with Harlequins.

The 35-year-old number eight was announced as the new head coach of Wimbledon last month suggesting his time at the Stoop was approaching its end.

However, after setting a record number of professional Quins appearances (233) last year, as well as being named Gatorade game changer of the season and Green Flag forward of the season, the former England international is far from hanging up his boots.

And he insists the Dons know all too well where his weekend attentions lay.

“I will coach the Wimbledon lads on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but come Saturdays they understand that my first job is playing for Quins,” he said. 

“I may be there on the odd Saturday if Quins have a Friday night game, but here have been no promises made.

”In light of that I have brought in Tim Payne [former Wasps prop forward], he will come down during the weeks, to make sure we’re singing from the same hymn sheet, and then he’ll be there on Saturday.”

Despite his desire to perform for Quins, Easter has an eye on his future off the pitch, and has already earned two coaching badges.

“I have done some coaching before where I’ve not been in charge, but with Wimbledon I can really get my teeth into it, it is quite exciting,” he said.

“These are part-time guys and my duty is to get them playing good rugby and make them better as individual rugby players.”

He added: “My challenge is to get used to the differences between the professional and amateur set up.

“The biggest challenge is that you can plan your sessions but you have no idea how many are going to turn up or who is going to turn up.

“Sometimes you get 35 plus and other times less than 20, so you have got to be able to adapt so you face a few challenges more than trying to make them better rugby players.”

Easter, who has signed on at Beverley Meads for one year, has been in the top role since last month, but he has already witnessed enough to know he and his new men are kindred spirits.

“They are good guys, with a good work ethic with a hunger to play rugby,” he said.

“Like me, they believe rugby should be played as a fast paced game with high skill levels, moving the ball about and scoring lots of tries.”

He added: “I understand some of the players were frustrated with the way coaching was done last year, they did not learn anything, felt stuck in a rut and not really going forward, so it’s my role to change that.

“We will see how it goes for a year, but at the moment I am thoroughly enjoying it and looking forward to when the season starts, as I am with Quins – so it’s anticipation on two fronts.”