VIDEO: Reds prepare for cup showdown

Thursday 20 April 2017

Jersey Reds are hoping to make history tomorrow as they head off to southern Ireland for the British and Irish Cup final.

The Island's rugby team have just achieved their best finish by coming fifth in English rugby's second tier. Now the team are hoping to bring home a trophy to finish off a successful season.

Having fallen at the semi-final stage of last year's B&I, the Reds began their 2016/17 cup campaign with a loss on Irish soil, defeated 19-6 by Ulster 'A' in Belfast.  

But since that set-back in October, Jersey recovered to top pool one after doing the double over Cardiff Blues Select and London Scottish, and getting the better of Ulster in the return match at St Peter.  

They triumphed at the home quarter-final match against Cornish Pirates, which ended 36-20 to the Reds, and then a 17-25 semi-final success against London Irish at the Madejski Stadiun in Reading.

Now, they have set off for Cork set for Friday’s game which has been described by some as the most significant in the history of Jersey RFC.

Video: It's been a successful season for the Jersey reds and supporters can vote for the 'try of the season' here. 

With a number of the current squad leaving Jersey at the end of this season, including five members of the starting pack who have signed for clubs in the Aviva Premiership, there is said to be a collective desire to bring home some silverware in the squad's final outing together. 

It's also the last match for Assistant Coach Alex Rae, who is moving back to England and will resume his playing career at former club Bedford next season. 

Pictured: Jersey Reds Head Coach Harvey Biljon | Photo by Jacquie Ranieri

The Reds' announced their cup final line-up yesterday. It shows a reversion, in most cases, to the personnel who featured prominently in the 10-match winning run from January to April, which saw Jersey reach the verge of the Championship play-offs, as well as progressing to the B&I final.

Simon Kerrod and Jake Woolmore are the starting props, either side of hooker Joe Buckle.

James Voss is selected at lock, one of just two players to retain a starting berth from last Saturday's league match against Richmond. With Dave McKern sidelined by a shoulder injury, Voss is rewarded for a robust showing in the win over Richmond, and will partner Pierce Phillips in the engine room.

In the Jersey back row, the familiar 'FGH' unit of skipper James Freeman and Gary Graham at flanker, plus Nick Haining at number 8, will take the field for their 16th match of the season together as a trio.

Kieran Hardy and Bristol loanee Callum Sheedy are paired at half-back, Jordan Davies and Tongan international Apakuki Ma'afu resume their midfield partnership, and Nick Scott and George Watkins start on the wings.

Ulsterman Ross Adair, an Irish under 19 international at both rugby and cricket, is selected at full-back, the only other survivor from the Richmond starting XV and getting the nod ahead of Jack Cuthbert.

Jersey's bench also has a familiar look, including the front row trio of Nick Selway, former Leinster player Sean McCarthy and Jake Armstrong.

After a rare start for his 50th Reds' appearance last Saturday, another Tongan cap, Uili Kolo'ofa'i, returns to his established role as an impact replacement, with Max Argyle covering the back row. Jersey's longest-serving player, 25-year-old scrum-half Joel Dudley, is one of two back replacements alongside Lewis Robling. 

Fans that can't make it to Cork but who still want to watch the Reds try and bring home a cup can watch the live stream at the Clubhouse in St Peter on Friday.

The players and supporters are scheduled to fly back to Jersey on Saturday and plan to head back to the Clubhouse at St Peter and cheer on Jersey Reds Athletic in their final league match of the season, which sees the amateur side take on Henley Wanderers at 3pm.  

Attention will then switch to the final match of the season, the Ipes Siam Cup against Island rivals, the Guernsey Raiders on Saturday 6 May.