An ever-present feature of Jersey's first two seasons in the RFU
Championship is to return to the Island for the 2015/16 season.
Sean McCarthy will return to St Peter after a
season with leading Irish province Leinster, and is joined by
fellow prop Cosma Garfagnoli and winger
Rich Lane as the newest additions to the
Islanders' squad for next season.
McCarthy, 24, made more than 50 competitive appearances for
Jersey during his two years on the Island, including two Siam Cup
caps and all 45 Championship matches played during this period. He
was buzzing at the prospect of returning to the Island.
"I really enjoyed my time in Jersey, both on and off the field -
I made some great friends and look back on that period of my life
very fondly," he said. "I'm very excited to be rejoining the club
after their most successful season in the Championship and look
forward to contributing to what I hope will be an even better one
next year.
"My year in Ireland has been very different to what I've been
used to - there's huge competition for every position in the
Leinster squad and game-time has been hard to earn. However, I have
definitely learned from the hugely-experienced players around me
and hope to bring some of that experience back with me to
Jersey."
21-year-old Lane joined Bath three years ago after leaving one
of the South-West's leading rugby schools, Millfield. He made
appearances for Bath in the LV Cup, European Challenge Cup and
Aviva 'A' League, as well as a short loan spell with Cornish
Pirates. He was selected as a member of the England Under 20 squad
in 2012/13 before being forced out of contention through
injury.
"Rich has great potential and I'm expecting him to use his speed
and power to good effect in our back-line," said Jersey Head Coach
Harvey Biljon.
Garfagnoli, 29, played rugby for Lazio in his native Rome from
youth team to the Eccelenza League that is the top level of the
domestic game in Italy. He has subsequently played for three other
Italian sides: Cavalieri Prato, Benetton Treviso and most recently
Petrarca, for whom he played his final game last weekend at the
conclusion of the Eccellenza season.
"Cosma has a reputation as a strong scrummager who will also
bring all-round rugby skills to our squad," added Biljon. "The
front row provides the corner-stone of a rugby team and that's why
I'm also very pleased to have confirmed Sean's return to the
Island."
Jersey's three new players will join their team-mates when
pre-season training starts in early June. The latest signings take
Jersey's total squad numbers so far to 32 players.
Jersey Squad 2015/16 (new signings marked
*)
Forwards: Joe Buckle, Charlie Butterworth*, Nick
Campbell, Ben Featherstone*, James Freeman*, Martin Garcia-Veiga,
Cosma Garfagnoli*, Gary Graham, Nick Haining, Danny Herriott, Sam
Lockwood, Sean McCarthy*, Dave Markham, Pierce Phillips, Alex Rae,
Ignacio Saenz-Lancuba, Nick Selway.
Backs: Ross Adair*, Jack Burroughs, Mark Cooke*, Brendan
Cope*, Ed Dawson, Joel Dudley, Oli Evans*, Sami Fisilau, Tom Howe*,
Rich Lane*, Mark McCrea, Jack Moates*, Fautua Otto, Aaron
Penberthy, Lewis Robling.
