Exciting time at Jersey Rugby Club

It is an exciting time at Jersey Rugby Club as they head up to Fylde for their first game in National One.

Jersey has strengthened the squad that performed so well throughout last season to gain promotion.

Most notable signing is that of Ben Evans. With 27 caps for Wales, Evans will add a huge amount of experience to a pack that was already one of the most feared in the league. The ex-Cardiff, Sale and Calvisano prop takes on a role as player-coach.

Prop James Ellershaw and back row players Guy Thompson and Kingsley Lang will also add to the competition for places in the forwards.

With players such as John Brennan, Paul Rodgers, Nick Trower and Nathan Hannay still at his disposal, Head Coach Ben Harvey can field one of the biggest set of forwards in the division.

In the backs there are several new names to please the crowds. Two Welsh U-21 internationals are likely to start the first match. Centre Dai Bishop and scrum-half Nicky Griffiths will bring even more pace to an already speedy back line. Griffiths is also the current Wales Sevens scrum-half.

They will have another new signing in Ross Broadfoot playing between them. The fly-half has had spells at Leicester Tigers and London Irish and played against Jersey for Richmond.

Star centre Donovan Sanders should form a thrilling partnership with Bishop, which the wingers and full-back should profit from.

Scotland U-20 cap Glenn Bryce will be battling for one of those positions, hoping to oust one of the three incumbents, Mike Le Bourgeois, James Copsey and Ed Dawson.

It’s a big day for hosts Fylde too. Having been relegated from National One eight seasons ago with financial worries, the club has completely re-built the side and return with a much stronger structure in place.

They have been busy recruiting this summer too, with 11 new names being added to their first team squad. Chairman Michael Brennand is hoping for a huge crowd to turn up and get behind the Fylde team.

They too have a reputation for playing running rugby, and in many ways this was the toughest start either side could ask for.

By 4:45 on Saturday Jersey will know a lot more about the task that lies ahead for them this season.
(from CTV)