Reds bolster back line

Friday 14 November 2014

The Reds have a new team-mate – the JRFC have signed up a young South African player to strengthen their back line.

Jersey will face one of the toughest away games of the season tonight against London Scottish at the Athletic Ground in Richmond in one of their first Friday night games for a while. But the squad will have been boosted by the news that 24-year-old full-back Ross Jones-Davies has joined the team a few weeks after the departure of Tommy Bell, the former Wasps full-back who has signed with Aviva Premiership club Leicester.

Jones-Davies moved to the UK at the age of five and later represented Surrey Under 18s as well playing for Cobham RFC as a teenager.

He returned to South Africa to study at the University of Cape Town and played 70 times for its 1^st team the Ikey Tigers.

Coach Harvey Biljon said: "Ross is a real talent whose elusive running and kicking game will provide an exciting option for our back-line. He will now get the chance to develop his career in a professional environment and I'm looking forward to working with him."

He’s been out training with his new team this week as they have been preparing for tonight's away match against third-placed London Scottish. He won't be in the players line up for a few more weeks although Biljon says he's already settling in well.

He said: "So far everything seems to be going really well. Our players are very welcoming. He’s had a bit of banter off the guys already and he’s given some back."