Jersey Rugby Club have confirmed that Richard Haughton, an
England international at 'A' team and seven-a-side levels, is the
latest signing for the Island side.
The 31-year-old winger spent a decade at Saracens before moving
in 2010 to London Wasps, where he played for two seasons.
"Richard has played rugby at a high level, and he impressed me
with his enthusiasm for joining Jersey for an exciting first season
of Championship rugby," states Director of Rugby Ben Harvey.
"Although he has connections here through his wife's family, this
was first and foremost a rugby decision for Richard, enabling him
to take the next step in his career.
"As well as playing a full part on the field, I also anticipate
that he will be able to pass on his experience from Premiership,
Heineken Cup and international rugby to the younger,
less-experienced members of the squad."
Richard played for the England Saxons, the national 'A' side, in
the 2006 Churchill Cup tournament, making two appearances and
scoring a try. He was also a fixture in the England Sevens squad
for several seasons, playing in 31 tournaments on the International
Rugby Board circuit and scoring 106 tries. He won a silver medal in
the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
In his club career, Richard made around 170 1st-team appearances
for Saracens, scoring 44 tries, and had a further 59 outings at
Wasps, including eight tries. His last appearance was in Wasps'
final game of 2011/12, when the club successfully avoided
relegation at the expense of Newcastle Falcons, who Jersey will
meet in the Championship this season.
The new signing is expected to be seen in action for the first
time in two pre-season friendly matches: Leicester Tigers on August
11th, and Loughborough Students on August 25th. Jersey's
Championship season begins with a home match against the Cornish
Pirates on September 1st.
