The players and coaches of Jersey Reds have begun preparations for the forthcoming season with a number of new faces joining the ranks.
As the Reds’ squad went through their paces at the start of their pre-season programme, Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon confirmed three new signings among the forwards: prop James Flynn and back rowers Alex Humfrey and Wesley White.
Flynn (27) made 55 1st XV appearances during seven years with Sale Sharks before leaving the club in 2019 and joining Yorkshire Carnegie for one season. Most recently he spent the truncated 2020/21 campaign playing for Ampthill in the Greene King IPA Championship.
A second signing from Ampthill, and also aged 27, Humfrey represented his native Wales at 7-a-side and student levels after starting his career with Neath. He subsequently played in England for Bath and Richmond, and in Australia for Manly, prior to joining Ampthill.
White (25) was born and bred in South Africa but has played much of his rugby in the USA, helping Lindenwood College to a series of national and collegiate titles during a three-year stint. He has also played in Major League Rugby in the US for the Austin Gilgronis, in the ProD2 league in France for Montauban and was part of a pre-season squad for the South African 7s squad.
Biljon said: “I’m looking forward to integrating James, Alex and Wes into the squad – all three of them have got some good rugby experience under their belts but I believe can now push on in their careers in Jersey and make a real impact here.”
Further signings are expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
The Reds are building up to pre-season matches on their home turf against Gallagher Premiership opposition – Leicester Tigers on Friday August 27th (k-o 5pm) and Sale Sharks on Friday September 3rd (k-o 7.45pm) – and are then due to start their Championship campaign on the weekend of September 18th.
