Although the rival island rugby sides have competed against each other annually in the Siam Cup for almost a century, league encounters between Jersey and Guernsey are much rarer.
Saturday’s match at CoinShares Park will be the first time in 32 years since the men’s teams from the two islands have met in a league match.
The fixture was lined up after Jersey’s promotion from Regional 1 in March, although only confirmed when the National 2 leagues were divvied up a couple of months later and the rivals were both placed in N2E.
Guernsey have become well-established in the fourth tier since being promoted in 2018, spending five of the subsequent six seasons at this level and expressing ambitions to move well up the standings from the 11th spot achieved in 2024/25.
Back in N2 for the first time since 2010, the men in red had a tough start to their campaign with a 33-22 home loss to London Welsh last Saturday, but showed character to battle back and secure a late bonus point. Guernsey impressed on their travels by winning 40-19 at Leicester Lions.
In almost four decades since the start of the English league system in 1987, the only times the island rivals have found themselves at the same level previously were in Hampshire 1 across four of the first eight seasons of the Courage leagues.
The last encounter, also a Jersey home game, was staged on September 17th 1994 (teams only played each opponent once per season in that era). The match report in the Jersey Evening Post the following Monday described how availability issues had forced Head Coach Dai Burton to select “two balding forty-somethings” in the shape of fly-half John Taylor and lock forward Roger Nightingale.
While the local media may have been dubious about some of the selections, the home side gritted their teeth for a 19-9 win at the start of what would be a title-winning campaign, with Kevin McGinty scoring 14 points for the home side, with the other scorers being Graham Howgate – Jersey’s second try with seven minutes left – and Dave Wallace – three penalties for the visitors.
The most recent encounter between the sides was the Siam Cup clash at Footes Lane in May, won 35-28 by Guernsey. The Sarnians have had the edge in recent clashes for rugby’s second-oldest international trophy, ahead 4-3 in the matches played since the Covid pandemic.
Head of Rugby Myles Landick makes four changes to the starting XV from the London Welsh game. Three are in the pack, with Jake Bates starting at hooker in place of the unavailable Jack Macfarlane, Toby Osborne promoted to starting lock from the bench alongside Luke Bowles, who moves forward from the back row to free up a space for George Willmott to return to the side for the first time this season.
In the backs, Lance Armstrong comes in at wing after being a bench player last weekend and is expected to face his older brothers Matt and Alexander, both of whom have been fixtures in the Guernsey back-line in recent years.
Player-Coach Daniel Hawkes is added to the Jersey bench as Landick looks to provide cover for his back-line, with James Guyatt another addition to the replacements.
The match will kick off earlier than usual, at 1.30pm, to accommodate the visitors’ travel arrangements.
JRFC Men will complete their September schedule with away trips to Leicester Lions and Henley Hawks over the two subsequent Saturday’s, while the women’s XV will open their season on home turf when Lordswood Valkyries visit CoinShares Park on Saturday 26th September (k-o 12.30pm).
Jersey RFC squad v Guernsey Raiders (H) – 2026/27 National 2 East, game 2/26, CoinShares Park, Saturday August 12th, k-o 1.30pm
Starting backs (15-9)
Mark Boarer; Lance Armstrong, Dylan Stocks, Dan Barnes (capt), Rhys Thomas; Aaron Penberthy, Harry Cochrane.
Starting forwards (1-8)
Huw Owen, Jake Bates, Jack Higgins, Toby Osborne, Luke Bowles, Tom Tilstone, Kade Bird, George Willmott.
Replacements (16-20)
Joe Ridgway, Tom Wilson, James Guyatt, Freddie Earnshaw, Daniel Hawkes.
