After an intense rivalry over three successive seasons ‘back in the day’, followed by a 15-year gap, Jersey RFC will renew acquaintance with Old Albanian this weekend.
The two clubs will clash at Woollams in St Albans after contrasting starts to their 2026/27 seasons. Whereas Albanians won four straight games before suffering a 35-26 defeat to Guernsey Raiders last weekend, JRFC lost three in the row before achieving a creditable 31-all draw at Henley and then a first win of the campaign in round five, beating Colchester by 43-36 and scoring seven tries to boot.
Turning the clock back to the late noughties, both clubs were paired together at level five of the pyramid. In 2008/09 JRFC finished third in the final London 1 table to their rivals’ fifth, with each side winning their home game against the other. The following season Jersey did the double over OAs on the way to winning promotion as champions, ending up as top dogs at level five after beating Ampthill at Twickenham. Albanians also went up courtesy of a play-off win over Cheltenham-based Old Patesians.
Picking up in National 2 South in 2010/11, the clubs fought a tight battle at Woollams, which Jersey edged by 20-19, and then two months later it finished 31-21 in the Island side’s favour at St Peter as they moved towards another promotion.
Following the most recent encounter, OAs gained promotion to National 1, spending a total of five seasons in the third tier before reverting to Nat 2, where they are starting an eighth straight season.
JRFC team news
Multiple changes to the 20-man Jersey squad are set to bring the total number of players utilised so far by Head of Rugby Myles Landick to 38. A new face in the backs sees Noah Smalley selected at fly-half alongside John O’Sullivan – Smalley is the sixth different player to start in the number 10 shirt in as many games.
Skipper Dan Barnes reverts to his more familiar centre role alongside the returning Dylan Stocks, while summer recruits Freddie Earnshaw and Rhys Thomas will start in the back three alongside Bevan Biggs as Mark Boarer moves to the bench.
Potentially serious injuries to prop Tom Wilson and lock James Guyatt in the Colchester game mean changes up front, with George Thomas and Can Queree the men coming in, while the back row sees a welcome return for Euan Spencer.
Two teenage graduates from Jersey Colts – Max Sayers and Josh Krysztofiak – are selected on the bench and will look to make an impact alongside Joe Ridgway, Boarer and Deepinder Dyal.
Jersey RFC squad v Old Albanian (H) – 2026/27 National 2 East, game 6/26, Woollam Playing Fields, Saturday October 10th, k-o 1.30pm
Backs (15-9)
Freddie Earnshaw; Bevan Biggs, Dylan Stocks, Dan Barnes (capt), Rhys Thomas, Noah Smalley, John O’Sullivan.
Forwards (1-8)
George Thomas, Jack Macfarlane, Huw Owen, Toby Osborne, Cameron Queree, Euan Spencer, Luke Bowles, Kade Bird.
Replacements (16-20)
Joe Ridgway, Max Sayers, Josh Krysztofiak, Deepinder Dyal, Mark Boarer.
