The Island club locked horns with Coventry in their first outing since February 2020 at Butts Park, with the Reds making their first trip to the mainland since the introduction of strict protocols which provide passage for the return of elite sport.
Temperature gauges reportedly hit minus-9 degrees Celsius in the West Midlands during the 34-33 loss, although director of rugby Biljon’s post-match analysis offered warmth for his latest squad of professionals – many of whom already in possession of cosy necks thanks to an abundance of cult-like mullet hairstyles.
Arranged with just 24 hours’ notice, following approval to play from the Government of Jersey, the fixture was dominated by trial and error as the Reds finally put their six-month pre-season regime into practice.
‘I thought it was a great hit out, considering everything that’s going on with the travel regulations and all the restrictions,’ said Biljon.
‘We haven’t got that game awareness yet and we gave away silly penalties, like offsides. We also had a couple of silly breakdown errors, but that’s just about game-time. There is rustiness and if we were in a real game, making game-related decisions and substitutions, I think potentially [the result] would have looked different.
‘We weren’t coming here looking for the result. We were coming to play and to try things – not just taking shots at goal. We wanted to get as much rugby as possible.’
Responding to questions over his squad’s choice of hairstyles on their first public outing as a unit, Biljon laughed: ‘With my haircut you can’t ask me to comment on that.
‘I’m not sure what it’s about. I think they think it looks cool.’
Having spent the last six months living under rigorous pandemic protocols – approved by the UK government, RFU and Government of Jersey as part of their elite sport exemption framework – the Reds say they have left no stone unturned in their attempts to keep the Island safe while resuming Championship duties.
Biljon confirmed that the team, who will continue to be tested twice weekly at St Peter – in addition to a PCR test on their return to Jersey each weekend – travelled to Butts Park in two coaches on Saturday, to maintain distancing, having earlier flown to Birmingham on a private charter.
Each ground must implement strict measures on matchdays, including a ‘red zone’, which can only be accessed by players and coaches. For home ties at Stade Santander, Jersey’s opponents, who will also be tested twice a week, will travel directly from the Airport to the ground and will remain in their own ‘bubble’, preventing close interaction with the Island community, other than on the field of play.
