Flipping games option
RAIDERS’ preparations for a late August ‘Siam’ and the National 2 league season plough on with head coach Jordan Reynolds saying there ‘is no panic from us’.
The tightening of border restrictions has claimed an early casualty with football’s Skipton Cup games against FC Isle of Man lost, as well as a proposed pre-season friendly with Didcot Town and rugby’s pre-season home match with Westcombe Park, but Reynolds remains hopeful.
‘We have not been told anything to discourage us,’ he said, while admitting it is quite possible that a couple of early season home games may have to be flipped and become away matches.
‘The thing we have a concern about is that over in England players won’t all be fully vaccinated before the end of September.
‘But we would look to reverse the fixtures around.
‘We are not fearful of the season not going ahead and we are trying to be as pro-active as we can with regard to our players getting fully vaccinated.’
Reynolds understands half of his squad have already been vaccinated twice and by mid August all of them should be done twice.
As for the big Siam clash at Footes Lane on 28 August, he said they expect it to go ahead.
Jersey Reds chairman Mark Morgan is following developments closely in terms of the travel allowed and said 'we await some indication of what's going to be required from us to be able to participate in the Siam'.
Meanwhile, injured Raiders fly half Tom Teasdale has resumed light training ahead of a further scan and likely surgery on a ruptured ACL.
