Siam matches to get grander stage

THE next two Siam Cups look set to be played in Jersey. Guernsey lost the rugby inter-insular for the seventh year running last weekend. And their uphill battle to win back the trophy would not be helped should plans to stage the match in Jersey in 2004 and 2005 be approved.

Guernsey Rugby Football Club president Eifion Thomas has confirmed that both islands were close to rubber-stamping the proposal.

'There is an in-principle agreement to change the sequence of the Siam Cup,' he said.

'At the moment the Siam Cup and the football Muratti are played in the same island in the same year and the idea is to switch that around. Nothing is confirmed yet, but discussions are ongoing.'

The change has been suggested so that future Siam Cups in Guernsey could be played on the main pitch at the new Foote's Lane stadium.

That would be almost impossible should the rugby and football showcases remain in the same island each year.

'The Siam Cup is always played on the last weekend of April and the Muratti is always played about a week later. I don't think the Recreation Committee would be too happy about Foote's Lane being used for a rugby game and a football match in roughly the same week. It wouldn't be very healthy for the pitch.

'But if Jersey had the next two Siam Cups - in 2004 and 2005 - it could return to Guernsey in 2006 and that would set up the Siam Cup and Muratti in different islands each year.'

Thomas said that, to make the change work, Guernsey would have to concede home advantage for two years running.

An alternative idea to switch the sequence by staging next year's Siam Cup in Guernsey 'would be unfair on Jersey' because the Caesareans are celebrating their 125th anniversary in 2004 and they would not want to give up home advantage in that year.

Thomas added that the venue wouldn't make much difference to the match's result.

'It might hurt the bar takings a bit, but really it's not a major issue. I've spoken to our coach and players about it and they didn't see a problem.

'It almost doesn't matter where you play it; the passion and intensity remain the same.'