HARRY DOOLAN is set to become the first Jersey-born player to make a Championship start for Jersey Reds in almost seven years, having been named in the front-row for tomorrow’s clash at Nottingham.
The former Les Quennevais School student, who celebrated his 20th birthday last month, will wear the number two shirt for the Friday-night fixture at The Bay as the Island club looks to grasp the opportunity to lead the second tier. Victory will take Harvey Biljon’s side above current table-toppers Ealing, by at least one point, although the Londoners will then have three games in hand, starting with their trip to Hartpury on Saturday.
Doolan has made six competitive appearances off the bench so far this term – the first academy product to do so since James Voss, who moved to Jersey as a youngster, played for the professional side in March 2018.
Ed Dawson was the last Jersey-born professional to play for the Reds in the league, on the final day of the 2014/15 season.
‘Harry deserves his chance,’ said Reds’ head coach Rob Webber, a former hooker for Sale Sharks and England.
‘TJ Harris and Jack Macfarlane have both been injured for a long period and Harry has done well with his development in that time. We think that now is the right time to give him a start.
‘We have to drive competition for places and we recognise that some players need the opportunity to show what they can do. Sometimes it’s form, sometimes it’s load-management and other times it’s a gut feeling from the coaches.’
He added: ‘We’ve told Harry that he’s got to relax and enjoy it. He’s like a coiled spring so we have to keep him calm and get him to remember to enjoy the game, alongside the physical stuff. I’m looking forward to seeing him play.’
Full preview in Thursday’s JEP.
