JERSEY RFC men and women welcome visiting teams tomorrow for a round of friendly fixtures in preparation for the Siam Cup in two weeks’ time.
The women’s side will be facing off against Silhillians Sirens, followed by the men against Chinnor RFC, both at CoinShares Park tomorrow.
RFC men’s head coach Myles Landick said: “These extra games are really important for both sides at this stage of the season.
“Both men’s and women’s teams have achieved something incredible this season in winning their respective leagues.
“With the crucial Siam Cup coming up, it’s great we can welcome these two good teams to Jersey and have a runaround with them.
“Although they’re only friendlies, they are both a great opportunity for our players to get more minutes into their legs and to test ourselves against good players.
“The Chinnor team in particular have some players who have played a good standard of rugby and they’re going to be a test for us.
“The men’s side are seeing this game as a good chance to impress and try and secure themselves a starting spot in two weeks at the Siam.”
Landick and his men know all about what it takes to win the Siam Cup, after beating their Channel Island rivals Guernsey 42-25 last year in front of 2,500 enthusiastic Jersey fans.
Although 2023 was a magic performance from Landick’s men, they will remember all too well the 62-26 and 52-0 defeats in the previous two inter-insular contests. This year, with the Siam Cup back in Jersey hands, the Caesareans will have to travel to Guernsey and try to retain the beloved trophy on enemy ground.
“We all know how important that cup is, that needs no introduction.
“We are fortunate enough to have it in our possession at the moment, but Guernsey will be coming at us hard to try take it back.
“We have a massive squad now of both youth and experience. We have given game time to a big number of players this season and it’s going to be a real challenge choosing that Siam squad.
“Players will be disappointed, but we’re all pulling together in the same goal, men and women, and we all want to bring the cup back home with us.”
Success is no secret to Simon Le Moignan and his ladies side either, after they took the crown in the Women’s Siam last year as well with a thumping 31-5 victory.
Unfortunately, due to several players being unavailable this weekend, the women’s side will be heavily changed for their friendly contest with the Sirens. However, Landick knows the women are in a slightly different position and will still be aiming to impress.
“They’re in a slightly different spot to us with their unavailability issues,” continued the former Reds player.
“But just because they have players away doesn’t mean they’ll be taking their game any less seriously.
“The women have had a stunning season and will have put the fear of god into Guernsey, especially considering they beat them so well last year too.
“All members of both squads want to keep their fitness in check, stay sharp and match ready and push their case to their respective coaches for that Siam starting spot.”
Also taking place this weekend is the Junior Siam contest. Players aged from seven right through to colts from both islands will battle it out for the junior inter-insular crown.
Jersey Colts, led by co-captains Rowan Dixon-Smith and Charlie Best, will be hungry for another win this year after taking the spoils last year at home. The 2023 edition was the first Junior Siam contest since 2017, and saw the red half of the Channel Islands earn a resounding 54-14 victory.
The Colts side will travel to Guernsey tomorrow with 300 other Jersey RFC minis and juniors to battle it out for glory.
Jersey RFC Men’s squad to face Chinnor RFC: [1-15] George Thomas, Gene Syminton, Tom Wilson, Max Ayling, Euan Spencer, Jack Macfarlane (cc), Tim Corson, George Willmott, Max Harrington, Aaron Penberthy, Sam Harvey, Scott Van Breda (cc), Dom Mayo, Dylan Stocks, Charlie Hubert
Replacements: Jake Bates, Joe Ridgway, Nathan Thomas, James Guyatt, Tom Tilstone, Bevan Biggs, Jacques De La Bat
Jersey RFC Colts Siam Cup squad: [1-15] Shane O’Brien, Rowan Dixon-Smith (cc), Tyler Russell, Lewis Ham-Howes, Charlie White, Ollie Walker, Jack Stevens, Lars Thame, Callum Cuthbert, Matt Thornton, Billy Mullins, Sam Hunter, Ethan Huish, Aidan Fox, Charlie Best (cc)
Replacements: Danny Rodrigues, Will Dagilan, Shea Downey, Christian Lotz, Lance Armstrong, Ben Heasham, Drew Boylan
