Jersey Reds’ director of rugby intends to recruit up to four more new signings on loan before the next Championship campaign begins, although he admits negotiations are dependent on outstanding games in the top flight as well as RFU Covid-recovery plans.
Premiership rugby fixtures – the sole survivors of nationwide cancellations – are set to resume on Saturday 15 August and could run until November, if the play-offs are staged. One likely scenario is that the 2020/21 Championship season will not begin until January 2021 but as things stand Biljon is looking at Monday 3 August for an already-delayed start to pre-season training.
‘We’ve got three or four more players to come in, depending on what happens with Premiership clubs,’ said Biljon, who currently has 32 names on his list of professionals.
‘We’re not moving on anything until we know when the season will start, but I have spoken to two clubs this week about loans. We are on track with them but one may be up in the air because they’ve got a Premiership campaign to finish. That individual may be involved in that so may not be with us for a part of pre-season, and should he go well he may stay with that club.’
Jersey chairman Mark Morgan has said previously that second-tier clubs will have ‘no appetite’ for restarting league fixtures until spectators are allowed to attend, due to the financial impact of closed-door rugby.
