Jersey Reds have signed a new hooker for next season's squad, with Antonio 'TJ' Harris agreeing a move from Wasps this summer.
The 25-year-old has spent the past two seasons with the Gallagher Premiership club, based close to where he grew up in Coventry and played his first rugby for Barker's Butts RFC.
Harris has significant experience in the Greene King IPA Championship from earlier in career. In 2013, after a six-month spell in New Zealand playing for North Otago, he joined Bedford Blues, and after two seasons he moved to Nottingham, where he remained for a further two years before signing for Wasps.
Reds' Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon said: "TJ is a talented player who has had limited opportunity for game-time in the Wasps' 1st XV and now has the chance to make his mark in the Championship and to really show what he's capable of."
News of Harris's signing follows confirmation that Nick Selway, the Reds' longest-serving player, will step down as a full-time professional player at the end of the season in order to return to his former trade in the construction industry. Pictured below, Selway, who will be 30 in July, has made around 115 competitive appearances for the Reds since joining the club from Cinderford in summer 2013. He will combine his work with playing rugby for National 1 side Chinnor.
Biljon added: "Nick's been a great servant to the club, and we know he will give his all for the club for the remainder of the Championship season, and the Siam Cup after that. We'll miss having him around, but respect his desire to look to the future and would like to wish him all the best."
The 25 Reds players who have signed new deals, or whose existing contracts already extended into 2019/20, are:
* Jack Macfarlane (hooker - joined the Reds in 2016)
* Charlie Maddison (hooker - 2018)
* Leeroy Atalifo (prop - 2017)
* Alec Clarey (prop - 2017)
* Roy Godfrey (prop - 2017)
* Harry Morley (prop - 2018)
* Zei Alexis (prop - 2018)
* Jerry Sexton (lock - 2017)
* Charlie Beckett (lock - 2018)
* Max Argyle (back row - 2016)
* Rory Bartle (back row - 2017)
* Conor Joyce (back row - 2017)
* Jake Upfield (back row - 2017)
* Kyle Hatherell (back row - 2018)
* Janco Venter (back row - 2018)
* Will Homer (scrum-half - 2018)
* Liam Howley (scrum-half - 2019)
* Aaron Penberthy (fly-half - 2018) (also a Jersey player 2013-16)
* Apakuki Ma'afu (centre - 2016)
* Mark Best (centre - 2017)
* Koch Marx (centre/wing - 2018)
* James Newey (centre/wing - 2018)
* Jack Stapley (wing - 2018)
* Auguy Slowik (wing/full-back - 2017)
* Leroy Van Dam (wing/full-back - 2018)
New signings:
* TJ Harris (hooker) - Wasps
* Dan Richardson (prop) - Rotherham Titans
* Liam Hallam-Eames (lock) - Manawatu Turbos
* Alex Thompson (lock) - Ulster
* Luc Jones (scrum-half) - Richmond
* George Spencer (centre) - Edinburgh Academical
The Reds have also taken steps to retain members of the existing coaching team into next season. DoR Biljon, who marked five years in Jersey this January, has signed an extended contract stretching to 2024. His coaching colleagues confirmed for next season are:
* Neil Tunnah (Assistant Coach - Forwards - joined the Reds in 2017)
* Ed Robinson (Assistant Coach - Backs - 2018)
* Jim Molony (Strength & Conditioning Coach - 2015)
* Emlyn Lynch (Head Physiotherapist - 2018)
* Shaun Slater (Analyst - 2018)
* Oliver Ware (Physiotherapist - 2018)
