After a 16-year break, Jersey RFC and Henley Hawks will renew their acquaintance when they step out onto the pitch at Dry Leas tomorrow afternoon.
The two clubs were last in opposition in 2010/11 – apart from several Island trips by Henley Vets of which the details are subject to Tour Rules; the National Two South clash at Dry Leas on October 2nd 2010 ended 33-22 to the Island side, with Nick Trower (2), Donovan Sanders and Dave McCormack the try-scorers for the visitors.
The return match five months later was even tighter: JRFC edged it by 18-15, with two tries scored by each side: Neil Baggett and Tom Haynes for the Hawks, James Copsey and Steve O’Brien for their opponents. Michael Le Bourgeois, one of the few participants still playing rugby, landed three important kicks for the victors.
At the end of 2010/11, Henley were ranked sixth in the table, while Jersey finished second behind Ealing Trailfinders and gained promotion thanks to play-off wins against Taunton and Loughborough Students.
In the intervening period, JRFC progressed to the Championship, playing 11 seasons in the second tier prior to the cessation of trading by the professional Jersey Reds’ side, with the amateur team having entered the league system separately and regained their level four status. Henley have spent most of this time in Nat 2, plus two seasons at Nat 1, and last season the Hawks finished 12th in N2E, maintaining their status thanks to a play-off win over Tunbridge Wells in front of more than 800 supporters at Dry Leas.
So far this season, Henley lost narrowly at Westcombe Park and claimed the scalp of London Welsh by 30-29 in their lone home game prior to a 39-19 defeat on their trip to Guernsey last weekend.
Still dealing with a significant volume of injured and otherwise unavailable players, Head of Rugby Myles Landick has mixed up his Jersey squad as the Island side look for a first league win of the season.
In the backs, Dan Barnes returns to skipper the side – against one of his former clubs – in a midfield partnership with Harry Baty, while Lewis Evans will start at fly-half and Bevan Biggs slots in at wing.
The starting pack sees Jack Macfarlane return to his usual hooking role, while Kade Bird and Tom Ellis come in to join Luke Bowles in the back row. The five-man JRFC replacements bench includes a potential Nat 2 debut for Rowan Dixon-Smith a few weeks after his 20th birthday.
While the men are away, Jersey RFC Women will start their season with a home game against Lordswood Valkyries – the first fixture against the club from Chatham in Kent. Kick-off at CoinShares Park will be at 12.30pm, with a curtain-raiser also lined up: the Counties Three Sussex clash between the Royals and Haywards Heath 2nds at 11am.
October will start with another double-header at CoinShares Park as JRFC host Colchester in N2E, with kick-off at 2.30pm. Prior to this, there’ll be an outing (k-o 10.30am) for the Jersey Vets against French visitors Les Senateurs and Brakass, who hail from Chartres and Nantes respectively.
Jersey RFC squad v Henley Hawks (A) – 2026/27 National 2 East, game 4/26, Dry Leas, Saturday September 26th, k-o 2pm
Backs (15-9)
Mark Boarer; Lance Armstrong, Harry Baty, Dan Barnes (capt), Bevan Biggs, Lewis Evans, John O’Sullivan.
Forwards (1-8)
Huw Owen, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Toby Osborne, James Guyatt, Tom Ellis, Luke Bowles, Kade Bird.
Replacements (16-20)
Joe Ridgway, Rowan Dixon-Smith, Bryn Edwards, Rhys Thomas, Freddie Earnshaw.
