While it’s a positive sign for a rugby club when every home game is eagerly-awaited, this Saturday’s events chez nous have recorded especially high levels of anticipation.
The JRFC men have been going well in Regional 2 South Central, and will be looking for another win that could put them within touching distance of the league title. Opponents London Irish have been popular visitors to the Island on previous visits at both amateur and professional level, Saturday afternoon’s weather looks dry, and there’s a landmark new sponsorship for the club to celebrate. What’s not to like?
A 66-5 win at Salisbury in their last outing two weeks ago was a good way for the team to recover from the shock of a home defeat by Guildford at the end of January, although the JRFC Head Coach has warned his players that result is likely to inspire this weekend’s visitors.
Saturday promises to be a great day for the club as it marks the first outing for the men’s team at CoinShares Park, the new name for our home ground. This is part of a major new partnership agreed with digital investment specialists CoinShares, who as our lead sponsors for the next two-and-a-half seasons will be supporting rugby at all levels on the Island – it’s great to have them on board.
Landick’s Lines and team news
While a loss in their most recent outing on home turf should serve as a motivating factor for Myles Landick’s squad, the Jersey Head Coach knows it may also inspire this week’s visitors.
“I think that result against Guildford last time out will give other teams belief that they can come here and beat us, so the boys will need to be ready for that,” he said. “London Irish were very competitive when we went there in November, so we’re expecting a real contest this time around.”
Landick brings in three new faces to the starting line-up from the squad that won convincingly away at Salisbury two weeks ago, and they’re significant additions. Scott Van Breda comes in at full-back for his first outing since injury in early December, while captain Evan Whitson is back after suffering a head injury against Guildford.
The skipper’s return means Euan Spencer moves forward to the second row, where he will partner former London Irish pro player Jerry Sexton, who as a serving police officer was unable to play in the previous match last November after the “all-hands” call for members of the Island’s force in the wake of Storm Ciarán.
After a debut for Bevan Biggs at Salisbury – the winger retains his place another recent recruit from South Africa is set to make his debut from the bench: Jacques De La Bat will provide cover at scrum-half and wing.
Landick added: “It’s great to have Scott back – he had become a really important part of the playing squad before his injury, and has made a real impact since returning to training a couple of weeks ago.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Scott Van Breda; Sam Harvey, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers, Bevan Biggs; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; Joe Ridgway, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Jerry Sexton, Evan Whitson (capt), Tim Corson, George Willmott. Replacements: George Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Jacques De La Bat.
Previous encounters – November 4th, 2023
The Irish made a really strong start to the game on their home turf at Hazelwood, to the extent that they were more than a score clear of their opponents towards the end of the third quarter. But the men in red stepped up their game thereafter, notching 33 points in the last 22 minutes to finish clear winners by 55-34.
Three Jersey players – George Willmott, Jack Macfarlane and Charlie Hubert – each claimed a brace of tries, with the other five-pointers coming from Joe Ridgway, Sam Harvey and Nathan Rogers, while James Mitchell slotted five conversions.
Previous encounters – Back in the day
The first meeting between the clubs was in London 3 South-West (level 7): a 17-all draw in SW London in October 2003, while Jersey claimed a narrow home win by 13-8 in the return match in April.
There were a lot more points in the brace of league games the following season, which saw a JRFC double, winning 48-22 at home and by 75-32 at Hazelwood.
With Jersey promoted in 2005, and the Exiles following 12 months later, the clubs were matched up again in London 2 South in 2006/07. Irish won 18-7 at home in September, while the men in red won 39-3 at St Peter on March 17th.
Jersey Reds and London Irish locked horns in the RFU Championship during the 2016/17 and 2018/19 seasons. The Exiles took the league title on both occasions, and won their home games convincingly, but the Reds claimed notable home wins twice, including a famous length-of-field try which featured current JRFC fly-half Aaron Penberthy in a key role prior to Auguy Slowik’s touchdown.
The pro teams last met at Stade Santander International in August 2022, with the Exiles winning 31-29.
London Irish Amateur RFC
The amateur club was formed in 1999, 101 years after the original London Irish was founded during the final years of Queen Victoria’s reign.
As recently as 2018/19, London Irish Wild Geese played at level four in National 2 South, but successive relegations in 2019 and 2020 saw them drop to their current status at level six.
Parish Notices
In anticipation of a large crowd, extra car parking will be available at Jersey Aero Club – thanks to our neighbours for accommodating us. Or you can get the bus: routes 9, 15 and 22 all stop nearby, and we post a timetable in the clubhouse so you can plot your return journey afterwards.
The season has gone by quickly, to the extent that today’s is one of just two remaining league games for JRFC on home turf, the last one being against Newbury in four weeks’ time. Fortunately, there’ll be plenty of other rugby to enjoy right here, including home games for our women’s XV over the next two Saturdays and again on April 6th, plus friendlies for the men against Caldy (March 9th) and Chinnor (April 20th).
There are lunches scheduled for all home games, except March 2nd, so book early to secure your spots by emailing events@jrfc.je
JRFC Women registered a fine win over Seaford at CoinShares Park last weekend and will travel to Crawley looking to retain their lead at the top of National Championship 2 South East (South). Our ladies will then be home to Beccehamians and East Grinstead over the next two Saturdays.
The Siam Cup is on the horizon, with kick-off times now fixed for four games in Guernsey on Saturday May 4th: Vets at 10.15am, 2nds at 11.45am, Women at 1.45pm and Men at 4.15pm.
Fixture info is available via the ‘Teams’ tabs on our website, jerseyrfc.rfu.club
Salisbury match report: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1062447/jersey-rfc-vs-salisbury/
The JRFC men have been going well in Regional 2 South Central, and will be looking for another win that could put them within touching distance of the league title. Opponents London Irish have been popular visitors to the Island on previous visits at both amateur and professional level, Saturday afternoon’s weather looks dry, and there’s a landmark new sponsorship for the club to celebrate. What’s not to like?
A 66-5 win at Salisbury in their last outing two weeks ago was a good way for the team to recover from the shock of a home defeat by Guildford at the end of January, although the JRFC Head Coach has warned his players that result is likely to inspire this weekend’s visitors.
Saturday promises to be a great day for the club as it marks the first outing for the men’s team at CoinShares Park, the new name for our home ground. This is part of a major new partnership agreed with digital investment specialists CoinShares, who as our lead sponsors for the next two-and-a-half seasons will be supporting rugby at all levels on the Island – it’s great to have them on board.
Landick’s Lines and team news
While a loss in their most recent outing on home turf should serve as a motivating factor for Myles Landick’s squad, the Jersey Head Coach knows it may also inspire this week’s visitors.
“I think that result against Guildford last time out will give other teams belief that they can come here and beat us, so the boys will need to be ready for that,” he said. “London Irish were very competitive when we went there in November, so we’re expecting a real contest this time around.”
Landick brings in three new faces to the starting line-up from the squad that won convincingly away at Salisbury two weeks ago, and they’re significant additions. Scott Van Breda comes in at full-back for his first outing since injury in early December, while captain Evan Whitson is back after suffering a head injury against Guildford.
The skipper’s return means Euan Spencer moves forward to the second row, where he will partner former London Irish pro player Jerry Sexton, who as a serving police officer was unable to play in the previous match last November after the “all-hands” call for members of the Island’s force in the wake of Storm Ciarán.
After a debut for Bevan Biggs at Salisbury – the winger retains his place another recent recruit from South Africa is set to make his debut from the bench: Jacques De La Bat will provide cover at scrum-half and wing.
Landick added: “It’s great to have Scott back – he had become a really important part of the playing squad before his injury, and has made a real impact since returning to training a couple of weeks ago.”
JRFC (15-9, 1-8): Scott Van Breda; Sam Harvey, Dom Mayo, Nathan Rogers, Bevan Biggs; Aaron Penberthy, Max Harrington; Joe Ridgway, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Euan Spencer, Jerry Sexton, Evan Whitson (capt), Tim Corson, George Willmott. Replacements: George Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Jacques De La Bat.
Previous encounters – November 4th, 2023
The Irish made a really strong start to the game on their home turf at Hazelwood, to the extent that they were more than a score clear of their opponents towards the end of the third quarter. But the men in red stepped up their game thereafter, notching 33 points in the last 22 minutes to finish clear winners by 55-34.
Three Jersey players – George Willmott, Jack Macfarlane and Charlie Hubert – each claimed a brace of tries, with the other five-pointers coming from Joe Ridgway, Sam Harvey and Nathan Rogers, while James Mitchell slotted five conversions.
Previous encounters – Back in the day
The first meeting between the clubs was in London 3 South-West (level 7): a 17-all draw in SW London in October 2003, while Jersey claimed a narrow home win by 13-8 in the return match in April.
There were a lot more points in the brace of league games the following season, which saw a JRFC double, winning 48-22 at home and by 75-32 at Hazelwood.
With Jersey promoted in 2005, and the Exiles following 12 months later, the clubs were matched up again in London 2 South in 2006/07. Irish won 18-7 at home in September, while the men in red won 39-3 at St Peter on March 17th.
Jersey Reds and London Irish locked horns in the RFU Championship during the 2016/17 and 2018/19 seasons. The Exiles took the league title on both occasions, and won their home games convincingly, but the Reds claimed notable home wins twice, including a famous length-of-field try which featured current JRFC fly-half Aaron Penberthy in a key role prior to Auguy Slowik’s touchdown.
The pro teams last met at Stade Santander International in August 2022, with the Exiles winning 31-29.
London Irish Amateur RFC
The amateur club was formed in 1999, 101 years after the original London Irish was founded during the final years of Queen Victoria’s reign.
As recently as 2018/19, London Irish Wild Geese played at level four in National 2 South, but successive relegations in 2019 and 2020 saw them drop to their current status at level six.
Parish Notices
In anticipation of a large crowd, extra car parking will be available at Jersey Aero Club – thanks to our neighbours for accommodating us. Or you can get the bus: routes 9, 15 and 22 all stop nearby, and we post a timetable in the clubhouse so you can plot your return journey afterwards.
The season has gone by quickly, to the extent that today’s is one of just two remaining league games for JRFC on home turf, the last one being against Newbury in four weeks’ time. Fortunately, there’ll be plenty of other rugby to enjoy right here, including home games for our women’s XV over the next two Saturdays and again on April 6th, plus friendlies for the men against Caldy (March 9th) and Chinnor (April 20th).
There are lunches scheduled for all home games, except March 2nd, so book early to secure your spots by emailing events@jrfc.je
JRFC Women registered a fine win over Seaford at CoinShares Park last weekend and will travel to Crawley looking to retain their lead at the top of National Championship 2 South East (South). Our ladies will then be home to Beccehamians and East Grinstead over the next two Saturdays.
The Siam Cup is on the horizon, with kick-off times now fixed for four games in Guernsey on Saturday May 4th: Vets at 10.15am, 2nds at 11.45am, Women at 1.45pm and Men at 4.15pm.
Fixture info is available via the ‘Teams’ tabs on our website, jerseyrfc.rfu.club
Salisbury match report: jerseyrfc.rfu.club/match/1062447/jersey-rfc-vs-salisbury/
