Jersey RFC have confirmed the signings of six new players as
preparations continue for the club's first season in the RFU
Championship.
The new faces have reported for pre-season conditioning with the
rest of the 1st XV squad, who will play their first league match of
the new season on September 1st after friendly games in August
against Leicester Tigers and Loughborough Students.
The new signings revealed by Director of Rugby Ben Harvey are as
follows:
Richard Barrington, prop, aged 22. Former
Gloucester Academy player who played for Hartpury College in their
promotion-winning season in National 3 SW in 2011/12.
Representative honours include England Students and the
Barbarians.
Steve Boden, hooker, aged 29. Joins from
Doncaster, where he played for seven seasons, amassing more than
150 appearances.
Tom Cooper, centre, aged 25. Played for Cornish
Pirates in 2011/12, when his 16 appearances included the second leg
of the Championship Final against London Welsh. Previously played
for the (Newport Gwent) Dragons in South Wales for two seasons.
Joel Dudley, scrum-half, aged 20. A member of
the Academy section at Worcester Warriors during 2011/12, when he
also played as a dual-registered player for both Birmingham &
Solihull Bees and Bromsgrove.
Dave Markham, lock, aged 20. Played in the LV
Cup for Leicester Tigers in 2010/11 before joining Gloucester last
season. He played for both Birmingham & Solihull Bees and
Cinderford as a dual-registered player in 2011/12.
Sean McCarthy, prop, aged 21. A former member
of the Worcester Academy who played for Birmingham & Solihull
Bees in 2011/12. His former clubs include Nuneaton and Rugby
Lions.
Ben Harvey states: "I'm delighted to have six quality players
joining the squad as we build towards the new season. I expect it
to be a tough campaign at the new level and the aim has been to
strengthen the squad.
"I've talked to a lot of players and agents over the past two
months and have been able to secure some new signings of real
calibre - not only are they very capable players, but they possess
the right character traits to become real assets to the club. They
will be working with all the retained players from last season, and
I anticipate some stiff competition for places once the season is
upon us.
"I'm still talking to one or two more players, and hope to be
able to finalise the squad before the end of June."
Jersey RFC had previously confirmed that two former players
would be returning to the 1st XV squad: Lock Talite Vaoileti is
returning to Jersey with his wife and family after two seasons
playing in Yorkshire for Wharfedale and Rotherham, while prop Ross
Kenwright will also take his place in the squad after a season's
sabbatical.
