Regnard returns home as Guernsey assess fitness

THE Guernsey Rugby Club will this weekend assess how they are shaping up ahead of the new London Three South-West season. From today, a group of 22 players who will form the nucleus of the first team squad will be in Bath for a fitness camp and training match in the lead-up to the 2006-7 campaign.

Following their successful sessions with Darren Grewcock, the Coventry RFC coach, they are keen to put their fitness levels to the test as well as taking the opportunity to bond as a squad.

'It's a great opportunity for some of the younger players to make a mark,' said captain Andy Bailey.

'Young prop forward Leighton Batiste will make his debut for the first XV alongside a couple of new Australian players who have joined the club, Brendon Madey and Jordan Reynalds.

'It will be great to see how the new squad gels on and off the pitch.'

The squad will undertake a series of fitness tests and drills today with a competitive match against first team no.8 Jim Regnard's former club Walcot tomorrow afternoon.

'A good weekend of hard rugby and training will help the coaches see how far we have come over the summer and what we need to work on before the league season starts,' Bailey said.

'A couple of players are coming back from operations and we want to see how they come through the weekend.

'Jordan, who has played premiership rugby in Australia, has been working with the backline since he arrived and will hopefully help add a cutting edge to our attack play.'

Head coach Jon Colley has been working hard with Grewcock to ensure the whole club enters this season fitter and stronger than ever before.