Jersey RFC have moved to bolster their forward options through the considerable frame of Australian lock forward Dave McKern.
McKern, comes to Jersey from Canberra in Australia where he has been part of the UC Vikings squad for the past two seasons, playing in the National Rugby Championship, the top level of the domestic game in Australia. The 26-year-old, born in Armidale in northern New South Wales, joins Jersey for the remainder of this season and through to May 2017.
The 201 centimetre, 113 kilo second row (pictured above), who is English qualified through his Shrewsbury-born father, has also represented Canberra-based Super Rugby franchise the Brumbies; he played for Brumbies A in the Pacific Rugby Cup against the A teams of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, as well as those from rival Australian teams the Waratahs and the Reds.
"Dave has all the attributes to become a real asset to our pack, and my expectation is he will thrive in Jersey and have the chance to take his game to the next level over the rest of this season and into 2016/17," said Head Coach Harvey Biljon. "He'll be in contention for selection as soon as he's settled - admittedly that's partly a factor of the injury situation we have, but I expect to have some tricky calls to make once Dave is established and we have a full set of locks available for selection."
Currently eighth in the Greene King IPA Championship after Saturday's 18-29 win at Moseley, Jersey face a home league match this Saturday, when Bedford Blues are the visitors. Kick-off at St Peter is at 2.45pm.
