Siam rivals join forces for the first time ever

For what is believed to be the first time ever, a Channel Islands men’s side will come together to take on Sweden at Footes Lane, a fortnight after they have battled for the Siam Cup at St Peter.

Guernsey Rugby Club chairman Gary Haycock-West revealed that the idea for an international match, which will kick off at 7.30pm on Saturday 17 May, originated as his committee looked for ways to raise funds in a ‘fallow’ year when they were not hosting the Siam.

‘Collaboratively we sort of come up with this idea and I thought, “well, that would be easy”, but then going home asking friends and family, and they went, “oh, you’ll never get Jersey and Guernsey to play together. There’s too much rivalry”,’ he said.

‘But through discussions with Jersey, who are very receptive to working together to put on this event, it’s now evolved, the ink is on the paper and it’s really exciting.

‘It’s really trying to be the two islands represented together, not one more than the other. Yes, it may be that the first year’s in Guernsey, so we’re pioneering a little bit, but if everything goes as we would like to over the coming years, it will be played on the fallow year of whoever’s not hosting the Siam and that’s the logic with it.’

Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds will coach the CI side in the inaugural game.

‘Imagine the contest around the Siam and then this side being selected from the Siam. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity, not just for the players, but both islands and both communities – and then we get to take on Sweden, which would be amazing as well,’ he said.

‘There’s a huge amount of interest from the players, from both sides. I think the uniqueness of us playing together has created that ... and I think the the great thing about it is understanding how good a side that we can put out against such quality opposition like Sweden.’

Reynolds added that the visitors have been playing the likes of Poland recently and will be ‘a quality outfit’.

‘They’ve got guys that are playing National One at the moment in the English league, so we’re looking at a pretty tough contest for ourselves considering we’re at National Two and Jersey are just a league below.

‘But I think the fact that we can combine all that quality into one side will give us a really good opportunity and we’ll see how it fares on the day.

‘For us, it probably turns into that Barbarian rugby a little bit. We want to make sure this game is entertaining and we’ll probably select players based on that.’

Jersey RFC chairman Dan McAlister also gave his backing to the initiative.

‘This is a really exciting collaboration between the two islands and will be a fantastic way to finish the season,’ said the man whose club will host the Siam Cup on Saturday 3 May.

‘Both Guernsey and Jersey have been established parts of the English rugby system for many years, without getting the chance to test ourselves on an international stage, so joining forces in this way is a great initiative for Channel Islands rugby.’