Four months after lifting the RFU Championship trophy, Jersey Reds will kick off their 2023/24 campaign on familiar turf this Saturday.
The Reds will take on Richmond, who were Championship rivals last season but are now readying themselves for a return to National 1 following relegation.
A total of eight new signings are set to line up at the Richmond Athletic Ground as part of a 34-man travelling squad. Wings Robin Wedlake and Pete Sullivan will line up at kick-off, while the starting pack includes hooker Daf Hughes, lock Joe Peard and flanker Thom Smith.
Joining back row man Ciaran Booth and lock John Hawkins as potential debutants in the second half is a new face in the squad: Josh Barton (pictured below) has moved to the Island to join the Reds and the former England Students fly-half will be keen to impress after helping Exeter University to back-to-back BUCS titles.
Flanker Lewis Wynne will captain the side for the fourth straight season since making the move from London Scottish in 2020.
Members of the Jersey squad will have the chance to earn places for the next outing, which will take place at the same venue when the Reds take on London Scottish on Sunday September 10th.
The Exiles clash will be part of the opening weekend of the Premiership Cup, in which Championship Clubs are playing for the first time. Both sides have been drawn in a pool with Bath, Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates, while the Reds will also complete their campaign with a cross-pool encounter against Ealing Trailfinders in early October.
The Reds and Richmond lined up in the Championship over the past six seasons, with the Island side winning nine of 11 league games and also claiming victory in a brace of Championship Cup games.
In 2002/03, the Londoners were crowned champions of London 3 South-West (level 7), defeating the Reds 3-32 at St Peter and 30-13 at the Richmond Athletic Ground as part of a run of 83 successive league wins.
In 2010/11 it was Jersey who gained promotion, from National Two South; honours between the two sides finished even, with Jersey winning 29-9 at St Peter having lost 25-14 in south-west London.
Season tickets are now available for the new season, from just 150 for 13 games, with the first home game at Stade Santander International being the Prem Cup tie against Exeter Chiefs on Saturday September 23rd.
Jersey Reds squad v Richmond (A) 2023/24 pre-season, Richmond Athletic Ground, Saturday August 26th, k-o 2pm (* debut)
1st Half - Backs (15-9)
Brendan Owen; Robin Wedlake*, Charlie Powell, Jordan Holgate, Pete Sullivan*; Ben Burnell, James Mitchell.
1st Half - Forwards (1-8)
Greg McGrath, Daf Hughes*, Adam Nicol, Joe Peard*, James Scott, Thom Smith*, Lewis Wynne (capt), Hallam Chapman.
2nd Half squad
Forwards: James Hadfield, Harry Doolan, Huw Owen, Sam Grahamslaw, Monty Weatherby, Steve Longwell, John Hawkins*, Max Argyle, Ciaran Booth*, Alun Lawrence, Tim Grey.
Backs: James Elliott, Toby Venner, Russell Bennett, Josh Barton*, Dan Barnes, Alex McHenry, Ben Woolett, Scott Van Breda.
