this morning, boosting head coach Harvey Biljon’s options in the pack.
Here, the three new recruits explain why they chose to join the Islanders – and what they hope for their future within the sport.
Oliver Tomaszczyk (tighthead prop)
AFTER what he describes as a nightmare 12 months, tighthead prop Oliver Tomaszczyk is hoping to get his rugby career back on track at Jersey RFC.
Last summer, the former Worcester Warriors player was beginning his third season with Aviva Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons – for whom he made more than 60 appearances – but in November, disaster struck.
Just as he was beginning to hit form, Tomaszczyk suffered a nasty injury to his back and, after undergoing surgery last January, his stay at Newcastle concluded at the end of the season.
Signed by Ospreys for the start of the current campaign, the 28-year-old was left dejected once again when the Welsh club deemed him unfit for action and terminated his contract.
Contemplating his future within the sport, Tomaszczyk, who was visiting the Island, attended a non-contact session with Jersey Athletic to try to maintain his fitness – and before long, Harvey Biljon was on the phone.
Grateful to the Jersey coaching staff for their belief in him, the tighthead wants to repay the club on the pitch.
‘I’ve had a year of frustration so I’m not taking anything for granted but I’ll make sure I give everything,’ he said.
‘It means a lot more now because I’ve had a bad injury and I don’t want to go back to being out in the rugby cold.
‘Jersey got me back on the straight and narrow so I’d like to repay the club, get some games in the Jersey shirt and give something back.’
Discussing his turbulent last 12 months he added: ‘It has been very frustrating. At one point I thought my career was over but once I signed for Ospreys I felt that was a stepping stone back to playing rugby.
‘I rocked up at Ospreys, moved everything, was ready to go, keen and confident in where I was but they thought I was too big a risk so terminated my contract.
‘So the club have been very professional, very reasonable, very patient … unlike other clubs. They’ve not pushed me into anything.’
Hoping to be included in the match day squad for Jersey’s away match at London Scottish this weekend, Tomaszczyk is aiming to rekindle the sparkling form he had been in for Newcastle before suffering injury.
Discussing his strengths, he concluded: ‘I’ve never been a flash player – I’m determined, I like the close-quarter combat, the ruck, the maul, the breakdown, the scrummaging.
‘I just want to get stuck in but I’m not going to be throwing spin passes 20 metres …’
Will Rowlands (lock forward)
A CONFIRMED loan signing in June, Will Rowlands’ arrival in the Island was delayed because of the Rugby World Cup.
With Joe Launchbury included in Stuart Lancaster’s England squad, Rowlands’ parent club Wasps wished to retain the services of the 24-year-old lock until the quadrennial festival of rugby had concluded.
However, having finally arrived in Jersey on Saturday, and now happily reunited with close friend and former Wasp Jack Moates, the ex-Oxford Blue, who played in Varsity wins over Cambridge in 2012 and 2013, is awaiting his first taste of Championship rugby with bated breath.
‘I have watched a bit of Championship rugby and I’m expecting it to be pretty physical,’ he said. ‘I hear the games are often a bit looser than in the Premiership; more flowing, attacking rugby.
‘I’m looking forward to the challenge – already just being around Jersey I sense there is a focus on the set piece, which will be great for my development and something I really want to build on as a second-row forward to take back, hopefully, to Wasps.’
On why he chose to join the Islanders, he added: ‘Wasps wanted me to resign a deal over the summer but I knew I needed to play more men’s rugby so I was on the lookout for a decent club where I could hopefully force myself into the team and get some game time.
‘So first and foremost I’m here for the rugby experience, then aside from that, a general experience; something different to do for six months… have a chance to live in a new place, and meet a new set of people.’
Describing himself as a ‘born and bred second row’, Rowlands says the St Peter faithful can expect him to ‘add to the nuts and bolts of the tight five’.
He continued: ‘That’s an area I want to focus on myself but I also enjoy playing attacking, loose rugby if it’s possible. If the game breaks up a bit then I’m more than happy to get involved in the loose stuff.’
Uili Koloofai (back row forward)
FRESH from his Rugby World Cup experience – and arriving in the Island with a wealth of experience – is 33-year-old Tonga international Uili Kolo’ofa’i.
The New Zealand-born versatile forward has five caps for his nation and has an extensive global rugby experience, including spells in England, New Zealand, Japan, Italy and France.
Most recently, he played for Aviva Premiership outfit Newcastle Falcons but endured an injury-stricken campaign at Kingston Park last season.
‘I had about three injuries, back-to-back,’ he explained.
‘I got injured the week before the season started against Rotherham, at a pre-season game and was out for about eight weeks.
‘Then I came back, got injured in my first game playing against Northampton and the very next game I got injured again.
‘It was frustrating for both me and Newcastle.
‘It was just one season – I haven’t had any major surgeries or anything but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what caused it … your body gets on a bit but it’s the worst injury run I’ve ever had.’
‘But an opportunity came up with Jersey.
‘After the season I had last year, with a lot of injuries, it was a good opportunity for me to try to bounce back, and play regularly.
‘I’d never been to Jersey before but I saw it as an opportunity to come here and see Jersey for the first time.
