After the briefest of festive interludes, Jersey RFC, Bracknell and the other 70 clubs in the fifth tier of the English game are due back in action on the fourth day of 2025.
Unlike most clubs at other levels between the RFU Championship and the lowest rungs of the RFU ladder, granted two weekends off to mark Christmas and New Year, Regional 1 sides had just a solitary ‘off week’ before heading straight back into it.
Jersey head to Lily Hill Park for the first time in 15 years for a return fixture against Bracknell, who came close to upsetting their hosts when they flew over to the Island in September. The visitors were ahead by a point in the closing stages, but a late Dan Barnes try sealed a 21-15 Jersey win.
Myles Landick’s side are second in the table, 10 points behind leaders London Welsh, a gap resulting from the Exiles’ November win in Jersey and the postponement of the visit to Old Alleynians, now rescheduled for the final Saturday of January.
Three players are brought in to the XV which started the pre-Christmas win at Brighton. Centre Dylan Stocks comes into midfield, while Scott Van Breda moves back to the full-back slot vacated by the unavailable Mark Boarer.
The other changes are Jake Bates for Huw Owen at loose-head, while Tom Tilstone comes in at flanker in place of Cameron Keys. George and Nathan Thomas provide forward cover from the bench, while Tom Bulfin is the back replacement.
With cold weather forecast for much of England, the two clubs have been in regular contact since Thursday in a bid to ensure the game can go ahead.
Jersey RFC (15-9, 1-8): Scott Van Breda; Bevan Biggs, Dylan Stocks, Dan Barnes, Lance Armstrong; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; Jake Bates, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Max Ayling, Bryn Edwards, Tom Tilstone, Evan Whitson (capt), George Willmott. Replacements: George Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Tom Bulfin.
Now the JRFC Head of Rugby, Landick was a player for the Island side when the two sides met in 2009/10. The season started with a 24-19 home win for Bracknell, which turned out to be Jersey’s only defeat of a promotion-winning season crowned with a 42-5 win in the return match at St Peter (watched by 1,500 spectators), followed by the National 3 (as the fifth tier was then known) title decider against Ampthill at Twickenham.
Jersey RFC Women are also back in action this weekend with an away game at Tonbridge Juddians on Sunday – kick-off will be at 1.30pm.
Unlike most clubs at other levels between the RFU Championship and the lowest rungs of the RFU ladder, granted two weekends off to mark Christmas and New Year, Regional 1 sides had just a solitary ‘off week’ before heading straight back into it.
Jersey head to Lily Hill Park for the first time in 15 years for a return fixture against Bracknell, who came close to upsetting their hosts when they flew over to the Island in September. The visitors were ahead by a point in the closing stages, but a late Dan Barnes try sealed a 21-15 Jersey win.
Myles Landick’s side are second in the table, 10 points behind leaders London Welsh, a gap resulting from the Exiles’ November win in Jersey and the postponement of the visit to Old Alleynians, now rescheduled for the final Saturday of January.
Three players are brought in to the XV which started the pre-Christmas win at Brighton. Centre Dylan Stocks comes into midfield, while Scott Van Breda moves back to the full-back slot vacated by the unavailable Mark Boarer.
The other changes are Jake Bates for Huw Owen at loose-head, while Tom Tilstone comes in at flanker in place of Cameron Keys. George and Nathan Thomas provide forward cover from the bench, while Tom Bulfin is the back replacement.
With cold weather forecast for much of England, the two clubs have been in regular contact since Thursday in a bid to ensure the game can go ahead.
Jersey RFC (15-9, 1-8): Scott Van Breda; Bevan Biggs, Dylan Stocks, Dan Barnes, Lance Armstrong; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; Jake Bates, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Max Ayling, Bryn Edwards, Tom Tilstone, Evan Whitson (capt), George Willmott. Replacements: George Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Tom Bulfin.
Now the JRFC Head of Rugby, Landick was a player for the Island side when the two sides met in 2009/10. The season started with a 24-19 home win for Bracknell, which turned out to be Jersey’s only defeat of a promotion-winning season crowned with a 42-5 win in the return match at St Peter (watched by 1,500 spectators), followed by the National 3 (as the fifth tier was then known) title decider against Ampthill at Twickenham.
Jersey RFC Women are also back in action this weekend with an away game at Tonbridge Juddians on Sunday – kick-off will be at 1.30pm.
