Jersey have responded to a number of back-row injury problems by
signing flanker Joe Buckle on loan from Bath.
The 19-year-old former England Under 18 player is in his second
season as a member of the Bath Academy, and has also spent time as
a dual-registered player with Cornish Pirates earlier this
season.
Director of Rugby Ben Harvey said that Buckle was likely to
feature in this weekend's British & Irish Cup tie against Leeds
Carnegie, and that he hoped he would establish himself in the
Jersey squad.
"We are building towards the climax of the season, which
includes some very important matches," Harvey said. "Back row is an
area of concern, with a number of key players currently
out-of-action, and it's great to be able to add a player of Joe's
pedigree to the squad.
"I've had great reports about Joe, who has developed
significantly as a player during his time at Bath, and am looking
forward to seeing him perform in the flesh at St Peter."
A Devonian who first played rugby in the mini & junior
section at Kingsbridge RFC, Buckle continued his rugby education at
Bryanston School in Dorset, leaving in summer 2011 when he joined
Bath, and also toured Australia with the England Under 18
group.
Buckle made one start and three replacement appearances in the
Championship during his time with Pirates, scoring a try against
Doncaster, as well as two starts in the B&I Cup, adding a
further try against Swansea. At the start of the season he played
alongside Matt Banahan for Bath in the JP Morgan Premiership
Sevens.
This weekend's match against Leeds, Jersey's penultimate game in
this season's B&I Cup, kicks off at St Peter at the later time
of 4pm this Saturday.
Notes
'Vital' stats: Joe Buckle is 6ft 2ins (188cm) tall and
weighs 15st 2lbs (96kg); he was born in Plymouth on May 13th,
1993
