Are Jersey RFC following in the footsteps of Reds?
· Yahoo Sports
In September 2023, rugby union in Jersey suffered a hammer blow.
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Jersey Reds, the island's professional side who had won the Championship just months earlier, went bust.
It left a newly-formed amateur Jersey RFC side as the island's main outlet for the sport.
They are now on the verge of repeating the memorable promotion feats that the Reds did over two decades.
The islanders are 17 points clear the top of Regional One South Central - the fifth tier of English rugby union - and are closing on a third promotion in four seasons.
They could clinch the title this weekend if they beat bottom side Hammersmith and Fulham and other results go their way, but if not a win at Bracknell next week will clinch the title.
"From starting at level seven with Jersey Rugby Club and now on the brink of promotion to level four and National Leagues is absolutely amazing," director of rugby Myles Landick tells BBC Radio Jersey.
"I've had some of the lads here since they were Colts all those years ago with Jersey Athletic, to see them now thriving in this environment on the brink of being promoted into the National League is absolutely amazing.
"I'm just so chuffed for the players and everyone involved really because it is a huge effort to get where we are now."
Jersey Reds' Championship title win in 2023 was the greatest sporting achievement by a team from the island [Jacqueline Ranieri]Jersey RFC were split from Jersey Reds in the summer of 2022.
It was initially to allow the club to field a side of local players in the English league system, as few if any islanders were of the standard to break into the professional Reds side that went on to win the Championship that season.
But it turned out to be a lifeline for the sport in the island, as when Reds went out of business there was a team that people in Jersey could still get behind.
With a number of Reds players staying on the island and getting jobs outside rugby, Jersey RFC have had a powerful squad for the level they play at.
They won every game they played in their first season and lost just two in their second as they rose from Counties One Hampshire to fifth tier Regional One South Central in consecutive campaigns.
They were pipped to the title last season by another former professional side who also fell on hard times - London Welsh - but this season they have again been unstoppable.
They have won all 17 games they have played, helped by former Reds professionals such as Aaron Penberthy, Scott van Breda and Jerry Sexton, the brother of Ireland legend Johnny.
"Obviously it was terrible thing that happened with the Reds," says Landick, who as a prop forward was a big part of the Jersey side that won promotion to the Championship in 2012.
"But ultimately those guys have come in, no pressure on them, they've enjoyed playing their rugby, they've integrated really well and they've helped a lot of the young players coming through.
"Having that experience there when things aren't really going right on the field and having just that arm around you saying 'come on we're in this position but this is how we're going to work out of that situation' or little skill drills that they've been doing with some of the players is absolutely amazing.
"It certainly makes my job that bit easier, but thrilled to have those guys on board and I know they've enjoyed the journey and so long may that continue."
Jersey Reds' final game before going bust was against Exeter in the Premiership Rugby Cup in September 2023 [Jacqueline Ranieri]But it is not just about the former professionals, it's also about the local players who are once again getting a chance to test their skills at a high level.
These promotions have been reward for players who for many seasons before the split had to make do with playing for the Reds' second string Jersey Athletic in competitions which did not feed in to the English league pyramid.
"It would be pretty mega for me personally, but also for the group," full-back Mark Boarer told BBC Radio Jersey.
"I was there probably 15 years ago when we all went to Twickenham and watched the boys get promotion against Ampthil to National Two.
"It would be quite nice to be involved in a game like that, maybe this weekend, hopefully the weekend after that.
"I started coming up here when I was nine years old and watching the first team in Regional One - at the time it was National Three - and to have the opportunity to run out either this weekend or the weekend after, or whenever it is, and gain that promotion will be be something extremely special."