Jersey RFC’s third home league game of the new season will see the first-ever competitive clash against Colchester.
The Essex side reached the National Leagues for the first time in 2024, and experienced a tough baptism in Nat 2E, with just three wins and a draw in a campaign that culminated in relegation. But they regrouped, earning another shot by winning Regional 1 SE in their 2025/26 centenary season, emulating their opponents this weekend with 21 league wins and a lone defeat,
The men from Raven Park, their home since 2021, have performed creditably over the first month of the current campaign under the guidance of former Northampton hooker Mike Haywood, who joined Colchester, where he began his rugby journey, as Forwards Coach in 2023 and has since become DoR. More than a dozen new signings have bolstered the squad since the end of last season.
While the first day of the season brought a 45-28 defeat at Barnes, the first home game saw a resounding 40-12 victory over Westcombe Park, while the 43-40 win at London Welsh in round three was a significant statement. Last weekend brought a home defeat by Guernsey, although Colchester battled back to a final score of 41-33 to restore some honour.
JRFC will be back on their home patch at CoinShares Park after successive road trips, returning from last weekend’s mission to Dry Leas with three league points after a 31-31 draw with Henley Hawks. The lead changed hands five times in a topsy-turvy encounter before the host registered an equalising try in the dying minutes, but couldn’t convert it.
After a powerful display by his forwards in Oxfordshire, Head of Rugby Myles Landick make just one change up front, as George Willmott returns in the back row in place of Tom Ellis.
The most significant change in the back line sees player-coach Guy Thompson selected in midfield for his first appearance of the season, with the former Wasps, Leicester and Jersey Reds man fresh from a run-out in last weekend’s “745” charity game between union and league XVs to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease.
Thompson moves into the number 12 shirt worn by Dan Barnes at Henley, with the skipper switching inside to fly-half, where he will link up with Harry Cochrane, who returns to the scrum-half berth.
The first weekend of October has traditionally been the date for JRFC’s Veterans Super 10s competition, which is sadly in abeyance, for the time being at least, after being an annual fixture for 27 years. But there will be some vets’ rugby on display, with a curtain-raiser between Jersey Wanderers and a combined French XV made up of players from Les Senateurs, who are based in Chartres, and Brakass, who hail from Nantes.
This will be the first match-day since the installation of new solar panelling on the clubhouse roof. This followed a public vote in an initiative run by SunWorks and Benest Estates, and will make a significant financial difference to JRFC as well as reinforcing the club’s aim to be environmentally sustainable. For more details see HERE
After an away trip for the men to Old Albanians on Saturday October 17th, there is a double-header to look forward to at CoinShares Park on the following Saturday, with league games against visitors Dorking. The men will kick off at 2pm, with the women’s game following at 3.45pm.
Jersey RFC squad v Colchester (H) – 2026/27 National 2 East, game 5/26, CoinShares Park, Saturday October 3rd, k-o 2.30pm
Backs (15-9)
Mark Boarer; Lance Armstrong, Harry Baty, Guy Thompson, Bevan Biggs, Dan Barnes (capt), Harry Cochrane.
Forwards (1-8)
Huw Owen, Jack Macfarlane, Tom Wilson, Toby Osborne, James Guyatt, Luke Bowles, Kade Bird, George Willmott.
Replacements (16-20)
Joe Ridgway, George Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Deepinder Dyal, Rhys Thomas.
