Jersey RFC

Jersey Rugby Football Club is an amateur rugby union club based in Saint Peter, Jersey. They were formerly a part of Jersey Reds as Jersey Athletic but were separated as a separate club in 2022 (adopting the original name of Jersey Reds).[1] They play in the English rugby pyramid and play in Regional 2 South Central.

Jersey RFC
Full nameJersey Rugby Football Club
UnionRugby Football Union
Founded2013 (as Jersey Athletic)
LocationSt Peter, Jersey
Ground(s)St. Peter
Coach(es)Myles Landick
League(s)Regional 2 South Central
1st (Counties 1 Hampshire)

Background

Jersey Athletic was founded in 2013 as a way for amateurs in Jersey to have a chance to play for Jersey.[2] They would play in the Zoo Sports shield for reserve teams.[3] They would also host sides touring Jersey, often following the first team after high-profile friendlies such as playing Tunbridge Wells after the first team had played Bath Rugby.[4] Myles Landick after retiring from playing became the head coach of Jersey Athletic in 2015.[5] In 2017, Jersey Reds announced they would look into entering Jersey Athletic in the English rugby pyramid, however this was not permitted due to Rugby Football Union rules at the time that forbade clubs having two teams in the league system.[3]

Separation

In 2022, Jersey Reds applied to the Rugby Football Union to split off Jersey Athletic as a separate club. Their rationale was that it was no longer suitable for a professional club to be run by amateur members and would free up resources.[6] In July 2022, the RFU approved the split which allowed Jersey Athletic, renamed Jersey RFC, to enter the English leagues on their own.[7] Due to a restructuring of English rugby, Jersey RFC were placed in Counties 1 Hampshire at level 7 of the English rugby pyramid instead of at the bottom.[8] Jersey RFC played their first match as an independent club in August 2022 against Oxford Harlequins at St Peter as part of a double-header as Jersey Reds played London Irish prior.[9] In their debut season, they were promoted as champions of Counties 1 Hampshire.[10]

References
  1. "Jersey Reds and Jersey RFC separation approved by RFU". Rugbypass. 8 July 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  2. "Jersey Reds • Jersey Sport". Jersey Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  3. "Jersey want second team in English league". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  4. "Jersey RFC v. Bath Rugby". Visit Jersey. 29 July 2014. p. 22. Retrieved 7 September 2023 – via Issuu.
  5. "Rugby star speaks out about depression battle". Jersey Evening Post. 14 October 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  6. "Jersey Reds to restructure club". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  7. "RFU approves Jersey rugby changes". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  8. "Jersey RFC's 'chance to make memories'". Jersey Evening Post. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  9. "Rugby double: Jersey Reds and RFC to go back-to-back". Jersey Evening Post. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  10. "Jersey RFC aim for promotion but know 'it will be hard work'". Jersey Evening Post. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
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