Guernsey and Jersey ready for league rivalry

Guernsey director of rugby Jordan Reynolds says playing Jersey in league games will match the intensity of the Siam Cup.

Following Jersey's Regional One South Central title win in April they have been promoted to National Three East - the same league as Guernsey.

It will be the first time since the 1994-95 season the two islands have played in the same division, when Jersey won what was then the Hampshire One title.

"To have this opportunity I think it's just going to create more of a buzz around the league, especially on those league games that we get against Jersey," Reynolds told BBC Radio Jersey.

"You can imagine the support that's going to come from Guernsey over to Jersey and vice versa.

"The size of the event could be something similar to Siam Cups. Obviously it won't take away from the Siam Cup, but I think it's great.

"It gives us both an opportunity to have that kind of rivalry throughout a league season - we don't get that in the normal league season, we've got to go and play teams in England and those derby weeks that they have, we don't get, so we get that opportunity now."

Jersey's promotion represents a rapid rise for the island side that was initially set up as a separate amateur team for local players to play in the English leagues because of the success of professional side Jersey Reds.

But when the then Championship champions went bust in 2022 Jersey RFC became the main focus of rugby in the island.

They have gone on to win three promotions in four years and join Guernsey in the fourth tier of English club rugby.

"We love a good trip to Jersey and I think vice versa," added Reynolds, whose side have played in the fourth tier for all but one season since 2018.

"Guernsey's got so much to offer and if it's an opportunity to jump over and watch your club play against one of the biggest rivals that they've got, why not stay the weekend and enjoy themselves and you know vice versa hopefully we can do the same."

Guernsey beat Jersey 35-27 in their annual Siam Cup grudge match at Footes Lane last month.

Reynolds says the addition of two more fixtures between the sides will not detract from the game which has been played since 1920.

"The Siam's too big to fail," he said.

"There were games back there during Covid where it finished and the two clubs got together and we ended up playing three Siam Cups in one season and the crowds were still very big.

"You've got to remember these will be league games, completely separated from the Siam Cup, and although you would hope the ferocity of both sides fighting out a league game would be there, I don't think it's going to match the intensity of what a Siam Cup does.

"So that's always going to be a significant difference, and the difference with the Siam Cup as well is silverware.

"You're playing for one of the oldest trophies in world rugby, so I don't think at any stage will that have a big effect on what the league season is doing."