Jersey celebrate despite missing out on perfect season

Jersey have lost just four games in the last two seasons, having finished second last season [BBC]

Jersey RFC head coach Myles Landick is proud of his side's achievement despite them missing out on a perfect season.

The islanders had already secured the Regional One South Central title and promotion to the fourth tier of English rugby next season.

But Jersey were beaten 30-26 at home by ninth-placed Wimbledon in their final game of the season - meaning they won 21 of their 22 matches.

"I'm obviously gutted, but if you give away 17 penalties and get two yellow cards you probably don't deserve to win the game," Landick told BBC Radio jersey.

"Probably our recent performances haven't really been there. I'm not sure whether that's a mindset thing once you've already been promoted.

"I said to the playing group afterwards we've not been relegated, we've won the league, so hold our heads up nice and high and we'll celebrate.

"Not many teams have won 21 games in a row, so we've got to be hugely proud of that," he added.

"But huge credit must go to Wimbledon, they're still fighting to stay in the league, a lot's on the line for them, but for us we've got to celebrate what's been a great season."

• Jersey RFC win Regional One South Central title

Jersey RFC could not find a way past Wimbledon at home [BBC]

The league win sees Jersey move up to National Two level next season - the fourth tier of English club rugby.

It is the island side's third promotion in four seasons since being established in 2022 after splitting from then-professional Championship side Jersey Reds in the summer of 2022.

The club has kept a number of players who had played for the Reds and opted to stay in Jersey after the former Championship champions went out of business in September 2022.

Landick says Jersey will remain an amateur side, despite coming up against clubs who pay some of their players:

"You look at to next year, there's no pressure on us, there's no expectation," he said.

"We know it's going to be a really tough league, it's a fully semi-professional league with some very good players.

"All we can do is build as best as we can and keep bringing those players through and give the squad every opportunity at playing at a higher level."

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