Pic credit: Kieran Ryan-Benson
Jersey Reds unveil a second batch of recruits today: four new faces who’ll ensure the club is well-stocked in the forward department.
Although the start date for the 2020/21 campaign has yet to be confirmed following the coronavirus shutdown that has already lasted almost three months, the Reds are looking to the future and have scheduled a series of announcements, grouped by position, over the course of this week.
Zak Farrance, Shay Kerry and Sean O’Connor will jostle for position in the second row, and the trio of locks will be joined by back row man Lewis Wynne.
Farrance, 24 (pictured above), was born in London and spent four years as a member of the Saracens Academy. In 2014 he made the move to eastern France, joining Union Sportive Oyonnax – the club played in both the Top 14 and ProD2 leagues during his six-year stay.
Kerry (pictured above by PRiME Media), was born in Canterbury, Kent before moving with his family to New Zealand aged 10 and cutting his teeth as a rugby player, including national selection at under 17 level and playing for Bay of Plenty. Since returning to Europe in 2013, the 25-year-old has played for Worcester Warriors, Oyonnax, Narbonne and, most recently, for Ampthill in the Greene King IPA Championship.
Joining prop Ciaran Parker in making the move to Jersey from Munster in Ireland, O’Connor (23) (pictured top) was born in Tipperary and is a product of Cashel RFC. He spent four seasons with Munster, as well as playing for the renowned Garryowen club in Limerick, and represented Ireland under 20s at the Junior World Cup in 2016.
Wynne, 23 (pictured above by Carlton Myrie / PRiME Media), has played for the Reds’ Championship rivals London Scottish for the past two seasons. Previously the dynamic Falkirk-born flanker gained top-flight experience with Glasgow Warriors, as well as playing for Stirling County and earning representative honours for his country in the Under 20 6 Nations and Junior World Cup in 2015.
Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon said: “Zak, Shay and Sean are specialist second rows who will bring some real physicality to our pack. Lewis is an open-side flanker who also offers leadership experience, and we expect a real contest for the number seven shirt between him and Josh Bainbridge.”
The new signings will join 15 players from the Reds’ 2019/20 squad [see LINK to announcement about stayers/leavers from current squad] as well as other new faces set to be unveiled this week. Yesterday the club confirmed the signings of hooker George Edgson and props Ollie Dawe, Jack Higgins and Ciaran Parker.
