- Head coach issues rallying call to fringe players
- Jersey set to play Bristol in penultimate Championship match tonight
- Reds could rise to sixth in the table with victory
Jersey players yet to be offered contracts for next season must prove their worth in the final two games of the current Greene King IPA Championship campaign, according to Harvey Biljon.
| P | W | D | L | BP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 94 |
| Worcester | 20 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 91 |
| London Scottish | 20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 64 |
| Rotherham | 20 | 10 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 53 |
| Nottingham | 20 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 52 |
| Cornish Pirates | 20 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 45 |
| Yorkshire Carnegie | 20 | 8 | 1 | 11 | 11 | 45 |
| Jersey | 20 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 10 | 42 |
| Bedford | 20 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 37 |
| Doncaster | 20 | 6 | 1 | 13 | 9 | 35 |
| Moseley | 20 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 9 | 27 |
| Plymouth Albion | 20 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 4 | 20 |
With the Islanders’ 2015/16 squad already taking shape, the pressure is on those individuals who don’t yet have a deal in place for the next 12 months.
Sixteen of the current squad have signed contracts that will keep them at St Peter for at least next term and four new signatures have also been confirmed in the last week.
Jersey have two league matches remaining – away at leaders Bristol tonight and at home to Moseley next Saturday – and head coach Biljon says the fixtures are a chance to impress.
With the Reds unable to slip into the sole relegation position or clinch one of the four available play-off spots, the Championship run-in means Biljon can present his fringe players with what could be their final opportunity.
Although he maintains that an injury-plagued squad means he has minimal choice in terms of selection, the South African acknowledges that contracts are up for grabs.
‘There are two or three candidates that these two games will give them an opportunity to secure themselves a contract with Jersey,’ he said.
‘And if they do get to play, I’m sure they will be performing to the best of their ability, not only for their teammates but it’s also a chance for them to play well to get a contract elsewhere.’
The departure of three of Jersey’s top performers has also been confirmed this week, with Harry Williams, Drew Locke and Ryan Hodson all off to pastures new.
Biljon says it’s always frustrating to lose top players, adding: ‘It’s not always part and parcel of rugby; it’s part and parcel of where we are in the Championship at the moment.
‘We have to think of Jersey firstly but sometimes you don’t want to stand in the way of a player’s progression so it is a tough debate at the moment.
‘If a player gets the right opportunity to go up, to play rugby and be part of something, we’ve got to support him.
‘If it’s not the right opportunity, and he’s going to continue to develop, he needs to stay at Jersey and he will get his shot if he continues to improve.
‘Guys don’t need to rush. If they work hard … it’s obvious players at Jersey are getting shots at the Premiership.’
Injuries to Sami Fisilau and Mark McCrea mean half-backs Ryan Glynn and Jonny Bentley return to the XV, as does Jerseyman Ed Dawson, who is set to start his first Championship match since the opening day of the current campaign.
Biljon added: ‘Our line-up has been a working progress all week. We’ve been working with our medical team and we’ve had some late withdrawals.’
The match kicks-off at 7.45 pm.
