The Greene King IPA Championship fixtures for 2014/15 have been
released.
A trip to Birmingham to play Moseley will be Jersey's
destination for the opening weekend of the season at the start of
September, and a week later at St Peter the Islanders will renew
their rivalry with Doncaster for the first time since a 13-10 home
win in April 2013 effectively sealed Jersey's survival at the
Yorkshire side's expense.
The six British & Irish Cup group games - with Jersey's
opponents yet to be confirmed - will take place in two blocks
before Christmas; with the B&I concluding on the Easter weekend
at the start of April.
Other highlights for Jersey include their first meetings with
Worcester Warriors following the latter's relegation from the Aviva
Premiership in May - Harvey Biljon's side visit Sixways in November
with the return leg in Jersey on Saturday 21st March.
The 'regular season' of the Greene King IPA Championship will
conclude for Jersey with an away trip to Bristol at their new
Ashton Gate home and the home clash with Moseley on the final
Saturday of April.
The experiment of launching the season with three 'Big Rugby
Weekend' double-headers will not be repeated in 2014/15. Each team
will have a more conventional allocation of 11 home-and-away
match-ups with their Championship rivals.
The Championship XV concept will be reignited following the 2012
match against the Maori All Blacks. On Sunday 2nd November, at a
Championship venue to be confirmed, the best XV from across
the league will face Canada in a showpiece game designed to
highlight the breadth of talent on offer in the second tier,
providing a unique international experience for players and
spectators alike.
"We're delighted to be bringing the Championship XV game back
into the league season", commented Geoff Irvine, Chairman of the
Championship Clubs Committee. "As highlighted by the sell-out Maori
All Blacks fixture two years ago, such a game offers a great appeal
for Championship supporters and players."
Days of fixtures, and kick-off
times
The fixtures are all scheduled for a designated weekend, as
shown below with a weekend (W/E) note and the date of the Saturday.
Games may take place on Friday evening, Saturday, or Sunday, with
the home club having the right to nominate their preferred day and
time. Some fixtures may also be moved to accommodate live coverage
on Sky Sports.
Although Jersey is likely to play the vast majority of home
league fixtures in the Saturday afternoon slot, this remains to be
confirmed. Our away matches could take place on Friday, Saturday or
Sunday. Confirmation of exact times will be issued as soon as
possible. Supporters should make allowances for the potential range
of kick-off times if they are seeking to make travel arrangements
before this confirmation is available.
Jersey RFC, 1st XV Fixtures
2014-15
(Key - Capital letters denote a
home fixture)
Sat 16 Aug - AYR (Pre-season)
Sat 23 Aug - BATH (Pre-season)
Sat 30 Aug - BLACKHEATH (Pre-season)
W/E 6 Sep - Moseley
W/E 13 Sep - DONCASTER
W/E 20 Sep - Nottingham
W/E 27 Sep - ROTHERHAM
W/E 4 Oct - Bedford
W/E 11 Oct - British & Irish Cup
W/E 18 Oct - British & Irish Cup
W/E 25 Oct - British & Irish Cup
Sun 2 Nov - Championship XV v
Canada
W/E 8 Nov - PLYMOUTH ALBION
W/E 15 Nov - London Scottish
W/E 22 Nov - Worcester
W/E 29 Nov - British & Irish Cup
W/E 6 Dec - British & Irish Cup
W/E 13 Dec - British & Irish Cup
W/E 20 Dec - LEEDS CARNEGIE
W/E 27 Dec -Blank Weekend
W/E 3 Jan - Cornish Pirates
W/E 10 Jan - BRISTOL
W/E 17 Jan - Doncaster
W/E 24 Jan - British & Irish Cup QF
W/E 31 Jan - NOTTINGHAM
W/E 7 Feb - Rotherham
W/E 14 Feb - BEDFORD
W/E 21 Feb - Plymouth Albion
W/E 28 Feb - Blank weekend
W/E 7 Mar - LONDON SCOTTISH
W/E 14 Mar - British & Irish Cup SF
W/E 21 Mar - WORCESTER
W/E 28 Mar - Leeds Carnegie
W/E 4 Apr - British & Irish Cup F
W/E 11 Apr - CORNISH PIRATES
W/E 18 Apr - Bristol
W/E 25 Apr - MOSELEY
Play-offs: (for the top
four teams in the Championship) May 1/2/3 and May 8/9/10
Finals: w/c May 11 and w/c
May 18.
