New link between two clubs to benefit game
THE island's two senior clubs are pooling their playing resources in a move designed to benefit the whole the Guernsey rugby.
Neither club will lose their identity, but this initiative will allow players from the Guernsey Seconds access to the Solent League through St Jacques while the better Saints players could force their way into the reckoning for Raiders in National Three.
Rugby development officer Steve Melbourne revealed that last year's inter-insular success, in which the clubs combined for a memorable win in Jersey, was a catalyst for the move.
He said that it will help with the well-documented issues St Jacques faced last season competing in the Solent League and provide more opportunities for senior players across the board.
'Following on from last season's inter-insular, when coaching alongside Sam Stables, Jon Bell and Peter McMahon we got a really positive feedback from both clubs' players, we are looking to build on that and really pool players from Guernsey Seconds and St Jacques and draw out of there a Solent League team,' Melbourne said.
'We are increasing the number of games available to players because joining together in such a way actually brings more rugby.
'You have got the Solent League and everyone playing in that will have the carrot of possibly moving up to National Three and there will still be the local games against Warriors, the Vets, Jersey Combination teams and so on.
'We will also be reducing costs on each club on travel and it will support St Jacques in moving out of the Solent League and into a more competitive Hampshire League.'
Melbourne added that young players coming out of the academy will now have a graded development pathway available to them into senior rugby.
'Colts can now step up into local matches, then into the Solent League and then look to move up to National Three level.
'It gives a bigger player base for both clubs and a good base for Guernsey rugby as a whole to move forward.
'No club will lose their identity and next season we will have in excess of 200 games being played in our season.'
Both clubs have given their full backing to the venture with GRFC director of rugby Jordan Reynolds saying both will benefit while St Jacques player/committee member James Mroch added that it will improve the standards.
