Jersey Reds’ supporters are promised some excitement once the 2020/21 season gets underway as the club confirms four outside backs as the latest new signings.
Lesley Klim, Jack Roberts, Ryan Hutler and Kurt Heatherley have all agree moves to the Island, the latest of a batch of 15 new faces announced this week.
Klim, 25 (pictured top), is a 13-times-capped Namibian international who featured in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in games against New Zealand and South Africa. Capable of covering both centre and wing, he was briefly with the Reds on loan from Welsh region the Ospreys last season prior to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic that prevented him making his debut in the away game at Nottingham – and subsequently ended the season. Klim played for the Namibian side Weltwischias from 2015 to 2017, then moved to Europe for a season at Doncaster Knights and most recently spent two years in Wales with the Ospreys.
Born in Bangor, north Wales, 28-year-old Roberts (pictured above), began his senior career with Llandovery but then moved to England since 2014. He was with Leicester Tigers for three seasons and made 38 appearances for the club, had a loan spell at Rotherham Titans and then returned to Wales for a season with Cardiff Blues prior to joining his current club Doncaster Knights in 2018.
One of the top try-scorers in this season’s Greene King IPA Championship, with nine league scores to his name during the abbreviated campaign, Hutler (pictured above), moves to the Island from Bedford Blues. Born in Hertfordshire and a product of Wisbech Grammar School, the 22-year-old joined the Blues in 2017 and while on loan in 2017/18 he helped Bishop’s Stortford win promotion to National 1.
Heatherley (pictured above), has spent the majority of his career as a professional footballer playing the Australian Rules code for the Hawthorn club in Melbourne. The 25-year-old, who was born in Tauranga in New Zealand before moving to Australia in his teens, then returned to his native country in 2019 and played Mitre Cup rugby for Auckland Blues.
Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon said: “This is an exciting quartet, make no doubt about it. Lesley and Jack are both experienced players who have the potential to become key parts of our squad – supporters will be excited to see them in action, as well as by Kurt’s aerial skills and Ryan’s proven ability as a try-scorer.”
The new signings will join 15 players from the Reds’ 2019/20 squad, as well as other new faces unveiled this week. The club has already confirmed the signings of hooker George Edgson, props Ollie Dawe, Jack Higgins and Ciaran Parker, locks Zak Farrance, Shay Kerry and Sean O’Connor, flanker Lewis Wynne, scrum-halves Michael Dowsett and James Elliott, and fly-half Sam Leeming.
