Lisa Neumann weighing options after leaving Harlequins this summer

Lisa Neumann said on 18 August 2026 that she is considering her options after leaving Harlequins this summer, telling BBC Sport she had been limited to one appearance for the Premiership Women's Rugby side last season and spent time with Brython Thunder in the Celtic Challenge.

Neumann, 32, won her 50th Wales cap at last summer's Rugby World Cup and joined Harlequins in February 2024, scoring six tries in 22 appearances during her first season at the Stoop; last season, however, she featured only once for Quins. She was forced off in the opening round against Scotland in the 2026 Six Nations with a hamstring injury that ended her season. "I was gutted, it wasn't the best timing but I've had injuries before. You just have to go through the process, trust it and hope that you can come back stronger," said Neumann.

On departing Harlequins she said: "I would have loved to have stayed for the girls," and added, "This last year didn't go as well as I'd hoped. There were a lot of changes in the environment so I think it was a good decision to go." She confirmed she has not signed with a new club and said: "I've looked at all the offers and it's not just a financial decision. I have to think about quality of life."

Neumann outlined the personal sacrifices she has made for her rugby career, noting that before turning professional with Wales she made an eight-hour round trip from Manchester to Cardiff three times a week and now undertakes a similar commute from London. She reflected on the toll of travel: "Every single time I think I'm going to move closer, I'm going to make it easier. I don't know why I've just carried on doing it," Neumann said. "It is hard getting up at 4.30am, driving down and thinking 'what am I doing to myself?'"

When asked about following team-mates Jasmine Joyce and Alisha Joyce in returning to Welsh clubs, Neumann said moving back was an option but complicated by her life in London. "I played for Brython Thunder a bit last year and I did really love it," she said, "I don't feel like I'm afraid to make any mistakes. "But right now moving back home is a difficult decision, I've set up my life in London and it's not easy to pack up."

Neumann is in her third week of pre-season with Wales ahead of next month's WXV Global Series and described the preparation as physically demanding: "It's been absolutely savage, my body is sore from every session, we've been working really hard," she said. "One of the main things that we want to focus on is our work rate, we want to get fitter as a team and you can see it out there. Everyone is working for each other."

With Wales set to begin their WXV campaign on 18 September when they host South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park, followed by USA arriving in the Welsh capital on 26 September and two Tests in Japan on 23 and 31 October, Neumann acknowledged the challenge posed by opponents ranked above Wales and said: "Obviously we want to come away with a win, that's a given, but the biggest thing is coming back in after the game and making sure that we've delivered on everything that we've been working really hard on," she said.