LISTEN: Raiders co-chair Charles McHugh talks B&I Lions
COMMUNITY events would ‘definitely be on the cards’ should the British & Irish Lions opt to visit Guernsey as part of their preparations for this summer’s tour to South Africa.
Speaking on the Guernsey Press Sport Podcast, Guernsey Rugby Club co-chair Charles McHugh revealed that Raiders would be able to put on some sort of event, subject to safety measures, with the Lions if they come here in June.
‘When I spoke to Warren Gatland, he was quite clear that there would be community events,’ McHugh said.
‘We haven’t sat down and organised them or said exactly what they’d be, but the Lions are not stupid, they are going to do stuff with the community.’
Meanwhile, centre Ciaran McGann is the newest Raiders recruit ahead of their second sortie in National Two.
Guernsey’s director of rugby Jordan Reynolds is delighted to bolster his backline with a young player who is just finishing his studies at St Mary’s, Twickenham, having featured for Old Elthamians in the 2019-20 campaign before signing for Esher last season only for rugby to be abandoned due to the pandemic.
‘I’ve had a few chats with him over the last few months and we found it that was a good fit for us and him,’ Reynolds said.
‘It was definitely a position we were trying to fill.
‘We were a little bit light in the centres. We have good players like Tom Teasdale, Matt Armstrong and Callum Gladstone as well as some guys who can switch there, but then we are moving them from their primary position.
‘When looking at the make-up of our team, I have my eye drawn to National Two and our first experience of it when we did not have enough depth or competition in certain spots – that’s been the basis of both my recruitment and development since [that season].
‘Going in with four centres would, firstly, create good competition and, secondly, give us the depth we need.’
McGann played mainly in the 13 channel at OEs but also has plenty of experience at 12.
Reynolds described him as someone who is ‘defensively sound and carries hard’.
‘From the people I’ve spoken to, he is definitely a quality player and he offers us something a little different to our current centres, which is what we want.’
