After a long wait – it’s just over six months since Jersey RFC last staged a men’s league game at CoinShares Park – Jersey RFC will play their home opener against Brighton this weekend.
The Regional 1 South Central tie is the hosts’ third outing since gaining promotion to the fifth tier of the RFU structure, and follows wins from back-to-back away games against Tunbridge Wells and Hammersmith & Fulham.
With his side lying second in the embryonic league table, just a converted try behind London Welsh in terms of points difference, head coach Myles Landick once again makes a handful of changes to his squad.
An injury to wing Tom Bulfin means a chance for Eryk Swiech, while in the front row rotation at loose-head sees a week off for Joe Ridgway, a start for Jake Bates and a bench spot for George Thomas. In the back row, Jack Macfarlane starts as Tom Tilstone moves to the bench, while Jerry Sexton’s work commitments mean Bryn Edwards is selected at number seven. Max Harrington returns to the squad and will provide back-line cover from the bench.
Landick said: “The idea of giving opportunities to a few new faces is how we’d like to approach the season and those who are coming in deserve their chance.
“Potentially most of our injured players could be fit for selection by the time we start our next block of games on October 12th, so selection won’t get any easier.”
The Head Coach acknowledged the excitement within his squad about the chance to play in front of their home support, but also said he expected a tough challenge from the visitors.
“I think Brighton should have won their first match, and we know we have to be on our game,” he said. “All the coaches in the league say there are no easy games, and I believe them.
“It’s been a long time since we had a league game at home, so we’re hoping for a really big crowd and to get a really good atmosphere.”
Brighton have had a difficult start to the season, suffering back-to-back home defeats to Hammersmith & Fulham and Bracknell, but the Sussex side are well-established in the fifth tier as they embark on their fifth consecutive campaign at this level and will relish the chance to ruffle some Jersey feathers during their Island break.
With origins dating back to 1868, Brighton Football Club rose up the leagues during the latter years of the 20th Century and during the “noughties”, as well as achieving a reputation as cup specialists by winning no fewer than three finals at Twickenham between 2009 and 2013. Success against Bridlington in 2013 sealed a notable double after the club won London 2 South-East to gain promotion to level five, and six years later the Blues gained their most recent promotion after finishing runners-up in London 1 South and winning a play-off game at Colchester.
Last season Brighton finished seventh of the 12 competing clubs in R1SC, racking up nine wins and a draw from their 22 league outings.
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Mark Boarer; Bevan Biggs, Nathan Rogers (capt), Dylan Stocks, Eryk Swiech; Dan Barnes, Liam Rhodes; Jake Bates, Gene Syminton, Tom Wilson, Cameron Keys, Euan Spencer, Jack Macfarlane, Bryn Edwards, George Willmott. Replacements: George Thomas, Tom Tilstone, Max Harrington.
Less than 24 hours after their male counterparts run out at CoinShares Park, JRFC Women will have their home opener as they embark on a first season in National Championship 1 South East (South) after promotion last April.
In their first game of the season the team racked up an amazing 95 points without reply to beat Pulborough Women, who finished fourth in the league last season. This Sunday’s game kicks off at 11am to accommodate the travel arrangements for visitors Tonbridge Juddians, and it’s hoped plenty of home supporters will take the opportunity to enjoy a second live game of the weekend.
JRFC Men return to action at CoinShares Park next weekend with a home game against Bracknell, with kick-off at the slightly earlier time of 2.15pm. And looking ahead, supporters are reminded that the world champion Springboks will be coming to the Island in a few weeks time and there’s the chance to see the squad in action during an open training session at CoinShares Park on Saturday November 2nd at 10.30am.
Tickets priced £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s are available by visiting the eventbrite.co.uk site and searching for ‘Springboks’.
The Regional 1 South Central tie is the hosts’ third outing since gaining promotion to the fifth tier of the RFU structure, and follows wins from back-to-back away games against Tunbridge Wells and Hammersmith & Fulham.
With his side lying second in the embryonic league table, just a converted try behind London Welsh in terms of points difference, head coach Myles Landick once again makes a handful of changes to his squad.
An injury to wing Tom Bulfin means a chance for Eryk Swiech, while in the front row rotation at loose-head sees a week off for Joe Ridgway, a start for Jake Bates and a bench spot for George Thomas. In the back row, Jack Macfarlane starts as Tom Tilstone moves to the bench, while Jerry Sexton’s work commitments mean Bryn Edwards is selected at number seven. Max Harrington returns to the squad and will provide back-line cover from the bench.
Landick said: “The idea of giving opportunities to a few new faces is how we’d like to approach the season and those who are coming in deserve their chance.
“Potentially most of our injured players could be fit for selection by the time we start our next block of games on October 12th, so selection won’t get any easier.”
The Head Coach acknowledged the excitement within his squad about the chance to play in front of their home support, but also said he expected a tough challenge from the visitors.
“I think Brighton should have won their first match, and we know we have to be on our game,” he said. “All the coaches in the league say there are no easy games, and I believe them.
“It’s been a long time since we had a league game at home, so we’re hoping for a really big crowd and to get a really good atmosphere.”
Brighton have had a difficult start to the season, suffering back-to-back home defeats to Hammersmith & Fulham and Bracknell, but the Sussex side are well-established in the fifth tier as they embark on their fifth consecutive campaign at this level and will relish the chance to ruffle some Jersey feathers during their Island break.
With origins dating back to 1868, Brighton Football Club rose up the leagues during the latter years of the 20th Century and during the “noughties”, as well as achieving a reputation as cup specialists by winning no fewer than three finals at Twickenham between 2009 and 2013. Success against Bridlington in 2013 sealed a notable double after the club won London 2 South-East to gain promotion to level five, and six years later the Blues gained their most recent promotion after finishing runners-up in London 1 South and winning a play-off game at Colchester.
Last season Brighton finished seventh of the 12 competing clubs in R1SC, racking up nine wins and a draw from their 22 league outings.
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Mark Boarer; Bevan Biggs, Nathan Rogers (capt), Dylan Stocks, Eryk Swiech; Dan Barnes, Liam Rhodes; Jake Bates, Gene Syminton, Tom Wilson, Cameron Keys, Euan Spencer, Jack Macfarlane, Bryn Edwards, George Willmott. Replacements: George Thomas, Tom Tilstone, Max Harrington.
Less than 24 hours after their male counterparts run out at CoinShares Park, JRFC Women will have their home opener as they embark on a first season in National Championship 1 South East (South) after promotion last April.
In their first game of the season the team racked up an amazing 95 points without reply to beat Pulborough Women, who finished fourth in the league last season. This Sunday’s game kicks off at 11am to accommodate the travel arrangements for visitors Tonbridge Juddians, and it’s hoped plenty of home supporters will take the opportunity to enjoy a second live game of the weekend.
JRFC Men return to action at CoinShares Park next weekend with a home game against Bracknell, with kick-off at the slightly earlier time of 2.15pm. And looking ahead, supporters are reminded that the world champion Springboks will be coming to the Island in a few weeks time and there’s the chance to see the squad in action during an open training session at CoinShares Park on Saturday November 2nd at 10.30am.
Tickets priced £10 for adults and £5 for under-18s are available by visiting the eventbrite.co.uk site and searching for ‘Springboks’.
