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Where are they now? The last Jersey Reds team before its collapse
This Saturday – September 28 – marks the first anniversary of the day when Jersey Reds spectacularly went out of business. Fresh from their 2022/23 Championship title, they had spent the early weeks of the following season rubbing shoulders with some Gallagher Premiership giants… but not how they would have wanted.
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They were on Premiership Rugby Cup duty, not playing in the Premiership itself. There was a time when getting crowned tier-two champions was rewarded with a place in the top flight. However, once Saracens completed their sentence on the naughty step and won their way back into the Premiership with a 2021 victory over Ealing, the ladder was pulled up and the top league ring-fenced.
It meant that the title success that Harvey Biljon’s Jersey clinched in April 2023 wasn’t accompanied by promotion, a grave disappointment for a club that had essentially risen from playing park rugby to becoming the best side outside the Premiership.
The title win highlighted how the Channel Islanders had come a long way from signing their first two professional players in 2006, and so slick were they at the start of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign last September that they came to The Rec and deservedly ambushed Bath 34-10 with a six-try display.
Exeter visited St Peter the following weekend and, duly warned by Bath’s misfortune, they selected front-liners such as Henry Slade to ensure a 43-22 win. Little did anyone know at full-time, though, that this would be the last match ever played by the Reds in the professional ranks.
Sad day for @JerseyRedsRugby but please do not let recent events over shadow the massive achievement of the players & staff ?? #COYR pic.twitter.com/t6gzhAYf3q
— Matt Cuthbert (@99percenttrue) October 4, 2023
They were due to fly to Penzance the following Thursday for Friday’s PRC game versus the Cornish Pirates, but the journey never happened. Instead, they were told at dawn that the club was being liquidated and would not take its place in the 2023/24 Championship.
That left Biljon and his players scrambling to find alternative employment. A year on from that dreadful morning on the island, this is what has become of the last Jersey Reds team to play before the club’s collapse:
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15. Scott van Breda
The 32-year-old, who opened the scoring versus Exeter with an early try, is now working on the island at HSBC Bank as a transformation manager. From South Africa, he previously survived a club going bust as he was at Eastern Province when they collapsed in 2013. Bounced back to play Super Rugby for the Kings and Stormers and then in the Premiership at Worcester either side of his two stints at the Reds. Has been appointed attack and backs coach at Jersey RFC, the island’s amateur club.
14. Ben Woollett
The 27-year-old Australian winger, who came through at Shute Shield level with Warringah before arriving on the Channel Island, was quickly handed a lifeline, signing for Leicester on October 5 on a short-term deal and scoring against Bedford two days later in the Premiership Cup. He finished up in December at Welford Road and is now back in Sydney working in corporate sales and playing once more for Warringah.
13. Alex McHenry
It was late October when the soon-to-be 27-year-old former Munster and Wasps (loan) midfielder headed to France for a stint at Dax which consisted of 10 Pro D2 appearances. Unsure another contract would materialise, he asked Dan Goggin, an old Munster teammate, to put his name forward for a switch to Australia. Finished the Shute Shield as a title winner with Eastern Suburbs, the club’s first Premiership since 1969.
12. Dan Barnes
The 29-year-old ex-London Scottish midfielder kept himself busy at Channel Island rivals Guernsey Raiders, immediately turning out in the National League 2 East. Has since launched a nutrition and online training business and is playing at amateur level with Jersey RFC.
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11. Peter Sullivan
Had one of the shortest Reds careers ever, having only joined the Championship champions in the summer of 2023 following his release from Connacht. The 26-year-old is back in Ireland and played for Lansdowne in the 2023/24 AIL. Hopes of resuming his professional career are on hold as he has a knee injury.
10. Russell Bennett
You will now find the 25-year-old ex-Ampthill out-half back in the Championship at Doncaster after the Knights snapped him up. Was a try scorer in their opening-round league win last weekend over Ampthill. Has also launched a personal training brand, Bennett Strength and Conditioning.
Wow ?
Ben Woollett is the architect and Russell Bennett the scorer as @JerseyRedsRugby continue a second half onslaught in Somerset ? #PremRugbyCup | #BATvJERpic.twitter.com/vCRfxtfOqg
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) September 16, 2023
9. James Mitchell
The 29-year-old older brother of England No9 Alex, his circuitous pro career involved playing stints at Sale, Connacht, Northampton and Doncaster. Initially took a coaching role with the Jersey RFC amateurs after the Reds’ collapse, also becoming a school learning mentor/coach in St Brelade. Has been working in Dubai since August as a sports coach.
1. Greg McGrath
It was August 2022 when Jersey signed the 27-year-old ex-Connacht prop who also had a few Leinster appearances. Provided some winter cover for Ulster after the Reds folded and, like winger Sullivan, he returned to feature for Lansdowne in the AIL. Played as recently as last Saturday for them in their new season league opener at Garryowen. Working as a service engineer with Whitewater Group since February.
2. James Hadfield
The 26-year-old was quickly recruited by Saracens on a short-term deal that was then extended in December after eight appearances. Mark McCall said at the time: “James is a very hard-working professional who has really impressed us.” It was then announced in February that Hadfield would extend his stay with the Londoners through to the summer of 2025.
3. Adam Nicol
Joined the Channel Islanders after the pandemic rugby resumption. The 27-year-old Scottish prop moved to Coventry after the Reds’ collapse and is now at Ealing after agreeing on terms last May.
4. John Hawkins
Another player whose time at Jersey was brief as he has only signed from Bristol in the summer of 2023. That Premiership background helped the 27-year-old to be in demand, with Newcastle signing him for the remainder of the 2023/24 Premiership season. Still at the Falcons and was a starter last Friday versus the Bears in their first Premiership game of the 2024/25 season.
5. Jamie Scott
The 25-year-old joined the Islanders in the summer of 2022 following his release from Worcester who, some months later, became the first of three Premiership clubs to collapse in quick succession. It was mid-December when Chicago Hounds confirmed him as a signing for the 2024 MLR where he helped them reach the play-offs for the first time.
6. Thom Smith
The 24-year-old former Leicester graduate arrived in Jersey via Doncaster in the summer of 2023. Initially stayed, working at a health club. Has since finished a bachelor of science in psychology and is now back on the Championship beat having signed for Doncaster. Is also lineout coaching at Sheffield Tigers.
7. Lewis Wynne
Had just started his fourth season at Jersey when the club collapsed. The 27-year-old quickly resurfaced for a few games with Stirling Wolves, the Scottish Super Series side, but is now working as an education recruitment consultant for T15 International in St Helier and has taken up ultra-marathon running after packing in rugby.
8. Tim Gray
The 28-year-old Welshman had bounced back from a seven-month ankle injury lay-off to help Jersey win the Championship, but his fourth season at the club was cut short by the closure. Now working in corporate finance on the island and has given up rugby.
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Replacements:
16. Dafydd Hughes
Another of the 2023 summer signings whose island stay was brief. The 28-year-old, who was previously at Scarlets, is now at Cardiff.
17. Huw Owen
It was 2021 when the 30-year-old loosehead was signed by Jersey from Pontypridd. He initially stayed in the Championship after the Reds’ demise, moving to Cambridge and combining it with teaching work until the end of last season. Has since returned to the island to play for Jersey RFC.
18. Steven Longwell
The 34-year-old Scottish prop was soon announced as a Zebre signing but family reasons meant he wanted a switch back to the UK and Bristol facilitated this by bringing him in as injury cover. Has since moved across the pond, playing for Old Glory DC in America’s MLR.
19. Hallam Chapman
The soon-to-be 27-year-old, who was previously at London Irish, was swiftly recruited by Exeter. Still attached to the Chiefs, but is spending 2024/25 on dual registration with Cornish Pirates in the Championship.
20. Max Argyle
The 31-year-old had been at Jersey since a 2016 move from Rotherham. Is now working in law in Jersey and no longer playing rugby.
21. Toby Venner
The 27-year-old ex-Bristol and Gloucester scrum-half had bounced back from an ACL injury to join Jersey in the summer of 2022. Picked up by Coventry after the Reds’ collapse and is now with Nottingham for the 2024/25 Championship season.
22. Ciaran Booth
Formerly of Connacht and Sale Sharks, the 24-year-old was picked up by Caldy to play last season in the Championship. Was unveiled on August 22 as a new Sale FC signing.
23. Josh Barton
Moved to Ampthill after his short time in Jersey where he joined from Exeter University. Still playing for the Dillingham Park club, lining out against Doncaster in last weekend’s Championship round one.
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Excellent article. For completeness, it probably should have mentioned that Harvey Biljoen is now Director of Rugby at Rotherham Titans, and doing really well in Nat One. No disrespect to Titans, but he really should have been picked up by a higher level team imo. Consistently produced the best pack in the Championship ( and to be clear I'm not a Jersey supporter ).