Jersey RFC have appointed Harvey Biljon as the club's new Head
Coach.
The former London Wasps scrum-half joins the Island side from
Cornish Pirates, where he was Assistant Coach. He will take up his
role at the start of next week, working alongside Forwards Coach
Steve Boden, who will remain in interim charge for Jersey's match
against London Welsh at St Peter this Saturday.
Biljon comes to Jersey after four-and-a-half seasons in Cornwall
- during this period the Pirates enjoyed considerable success,
winning the British & Irish Cup in 2010 and twice reaching the
Championship play-off final. Previously the 36-year-old South
African was a player and Director of Rugby at Blackheath from 2006
to 2009, and also coached the England Counties representative team
for two seasons.
Jersey RFC Chairman Bill Dempsey said Biljon had been the
outstanding candidate.
"We had a very long meeting with Harvey last week and were
extremely impressed with his ambition and enthusiasm regarding the
Head Coach role," he said. "We wanted to appoint someone to take
charge and consolidate our position in the Championship after a
challenging first half of the season.
"Some high-calibre rugby CVs have been considered, but we are
convinced we have found the right man for the job, and are grateful
that Cornish Pirates have agreed to release Harvey from his
contract so that he can take charge almost immediately."
Dempsey paid tribute to the work of Steve Boden during his month
in interim charge of Jersey.
"Steve is a young coach with great potential and the players
have responded well since he took charge. He will revert to his
role as Forwards Coach, and we believe working with Harvey will
provide the club with a very solid coaching team, as well as
enabling Steve to make further progress in his coaching
career."
Biljon visited Jersey with Cornish Pirates for the November
league match between the sides, and said he was impressed by the
passion he witnessed at St Peter.
"I was standing among the crowd watching the game and sensed
real pride and enthusiasm among the supporters," he said. "I met
Bill Dempsey and [Business Manager] John Poynton last week and was
struck by their ambition for the club, and convinced that it was
something I wanted to play a part in as Head Coach.
"This is a really exciting opportunity for me after four years
coaching in the Championship, and I can't wait to get started," he
said. "My first priority will be to sit down and talk with Steve
Boden and then to the players, and then I can begin reviewing the
structures at the club over the coming weeks and plan how I intend
to move things forward."
Biljon has signed a three-year contract with Jersey and will be
moving to the Island with his wife and two young children.
/*pictures by Brian Tempest, courtesy of Cornish
Pirates*/
