Following their promotion to level four as Regional One South Central champions, it was confirmed yesterday that Jersey Rugby Club have been placed in National Two East, meaning that they will play their Siam Cup rivals twice in league fixtures as well as the annual clash for the second oldest trophy in rugby.
‘I think it’s brilliant,’ said Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds, whose side finished 10th in the division in the recently completed campaign before they beat Jersey in the Siam at Footes Lane.
‘I got asked if it would take away from the Siam. How could you think that? Sides in the Premiership play each other twice in the season, does that take away anything if they meet in the play-off semi-finals or final?
‘If anything, it is going to attract more interest to our rugby. I think it will give us a little bit more to get excited about in the league. We’re the only club that does not have a derby in the competition, so it’s going to be great when the fixtures come out and everyone will be circling those dates.
‘It will also provide huge value on-pitch and off-pitch for both clubs. If the islands can get their travel lines sorted out, we might be talking about a few hundred people going to the other island to watch the games.’
Guernsey will not be facing any brand new opposition in the league next season, but they will be renewing some old acquaintances with Colchester and Leicester Lions back in their division.
The Essex club matched Jersey’s achievement of being promoted as champions with 21 wins from their 22 games in Regional One South East whereas Leicester Lions have been relegated from National One.
‘There were some grumbles from other clubs that they are already paying to get to Guernsey, now they will have to go to Jersey as well, but at the end of the day, this is the National League,’ said Reynolds.
‘Leicester Lions, like Oundle, will be a go out on Saturday come back on Sunday trip for us. We’ll have to go through Manchester to play the Lions, but it is what it is.
‘Looking across the board next season, there certainly does not seem to be any easy games.’
National Two East clubs 2026-27
Barnes, Canterbury, Colchester, Dorking, Esher, Guernsey, Havant, Henley, Jersey, Leicester Lions, London Welsh,
Old Albanians, Oundle, Westcombe Park.
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