JEP Supplement
From the Supplement of 3rd September 2009 (Courtesy of the Jersey Evening Post)
Plans to look after the fans
New pitches for the players and a covered stand and other permanent spectator facilities are in the pipeline for next year
JERSEY RFC’s chairman is 55-year-old Irishman Bill Dempsey. An avuncular leader of an ambitious club, he recognizes the importance of one of the Island’s leading spectator sports. Giddy with expectation, he hopes that the club can keep pace with a 1st XV who will not be happy until they win yet another promotion.
’My main fear is that the Ist XV will expand quicker than the club,’ he said. ’But the club, not the 1st XV, must come first. Our plans for the future include a marquee to offer beer, teas and coffees and refreshments for those who aren’t club members. ’It’s important to maintain what we have and for the club to keep pace with the players. So there will always be something available for spectators on match days. ’On match days we have to look after the supporters. I’ve been in this Island for 27 years and I know how important rugby is to the Island. I also appreciate the effort made by people the Island wouldn’t know, but who make the whole thing possible.’
Steve Landick and his States groundstaff crew have levelled the 1st team pitch and have also maintained a constant vigil on a ground which Myles Landick, apprentice groundsman, will take over this month. Meanwhile the Men of the Trees will come around, to make certain that the rugby club isn’t just throwing away club resources, and 216 people will be able to watch their rugby from a new stand the club are planning to build at the end of the new season.
’We’re not interested in the money and we know that non members might come to the game, and they are most welcome, but we will have to charge for admission. ’That’s simply what they do on the mainland at this level, and it’s what we will have to do this coming season,’ said Dempsey, albeit reluctantly, as he looks forward to the new season. ’But with the admission prices, we’ll also have to offer them something to go with their money. So we’ll have a marquee with beer, coffee and tea, and next year we’ll have a purpose built log cabin to suit them all,’ he said.
A membership form is available to download from this website. Admission to all games is free to members.
Mine host enjoying the buzz
ANYONE who spends time at the Rugby Club out of hours knows that there’s only one boss in the bar and the kitchen – Nicky Griffin.
She is, she admits, a rugby club girl and has been for over a year now, loving the job of feeding her Rugby Club Boys plus hosting nearly 200 other guests on match days, during which time she runs around the clubroom looking after her charges and also her ten staff plus three in the kitchen.
’I couldn’t ask for a better job,’ she explains.’The rugby club has become my second life and I expect the boys to win promotion at the end of the season.’I actually enjoy being busy, when there’s really a buzz around.’Despite the recession we’ve sold virtually all of our tables for 2009/10 and I’ve never been so busy.’Jersey Rugby Club is good enough to go even higher. And when they do so I want to be part of it.’
’Strength to strength’
JERSEY Rugby Football Club Ltd is a limited company with seven directors/trustees, each of whom has the best interests of Jersey RFC at heart. Although the club would appear to be thriving at the moment, it was only a generation ago that it was deep in debt. However, under the stewardship of former chairman Mike Engleman and with the support of the late Jack Walker, who funded the building of both Jersey Bowl and the JRFC clubhouse, by the mid Nineties Jersey had a club, a clubhouse and, ultimately a pitch which other UK clubs would have killed for.
’When we negotiated the settlement of our debts and dealt directly with Jack Walker we learnt early on that he wasn’t interested in leasing the property the rugby club had,’ said Engleman. ’Beggars can’t be choosers, so we had to listen to him and eventually sold the land which now houses bowling plus the carpark to the north side of the club. ’Since then, however, Jersey RFC has gone from strength to strength. And the directors of the limited company that oversees the rugby club are as committed now as they were in the early days of the new clubhouse building – although the building itself will need to be renovated, over a period of time. ’Thankfully, we’re all aware of that. And the club and the directors are confident that Jersey RFC will prosper in the next few years. We anticipate promotion. It can’t be guaranteed and, personally, I think there will be tougher games this season than last. But I look at the players we’ve got and lick my lips in anticipation.’
Helping get the community behind the Island team
Hard work from many behind the scenes at St Peter has put Jersey Rugby Club in a position to challenge sides long established on the National rugby scene. But the backing of Island businesses and individuals, not to mention the supporters, remains absolutely vital
EITHER this year or next Jersey Rugby Football Club will be promoted. That is the hope – or more assuredly, belief – that Island resident John Poynton has in the club.
Behind the scenes Poynton has looked after the gathering of sponsorship, the players and the finances of players and he has no illusions about how far the club has come to date, and how far they can, collectively, progress.
’I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t win promotion last year but in retrospect it was probably good for us,’ he explains.’It’s all been a learning curve and I don’t think we can win promotion until we have the right infrastructure in place. That has to be there if we’ve the intent to go forward. However, with the squad of players we have at the moment, I believe we’re good enough to challenge teams in higher leagues than the one we’re in at the moment.’Jersey are a good side, and very difficult to beat at home. And as long as they want me, I’ll continue to raise funds for them.’
At one time Poynton seemed more interested in football but he hasn’t been involved with a top flight football side since 1991 (he was at the helm when Coventry City won the FA Cup in 1987). And he much prefers Island rugby these days, admitting that he spends up to 20 hours a week looking after the interests of the club.
’My place of work is only five minutes away, so I can usually go over there when needed,’ he explained. ’I think that Jersey rugby is about to enjoy a brave new era although I won’t comment too much about the players because that’s what the manager’s paid to do. ’We’ve never had a squad so strong in depth. And I’m glad that we’ve now up to 23 games this season for the 2nd team because it would be unfair on them just to play in the JRA league.’At the end of the season the team which tops the division will win automatic promotion. The second placed team takes on their equivalent from what used to be the old South West I league.
Fortress Jersey
’If Jersey can beat Bournemouth and Barnes in two successive matches and without all of our established players, we must be in with a shout this year.’And no-one will like to come to "Fortress Jersey". ’We’ve also been given permission to eventually build a log cabin at the club which will offer our spectators a new dimension: a good day out with food, a drink, and extra toilet facilities at the end of the day. And the reasoning behind that is simple, for if you’re offering your supporters a match day out you have to allow them somewhere they can buy a pie and a pint; or a cup of tea and a hamburger; and to give them better facilities than they’ve come to expect over the years. ’There’ll also be extra toilet facilities and I know that we’ve introduced a £5 admission fee, but OAPs and children get in free. And we’re not asking for club members to look after the gates. We’re treating the club as a professional venture and we’re also treating the ground accordingly with a decent fence around the ground and four paid stewards to look after our interests.
’The infrastructure comes into place first. ’The rugby season seems to be getting longer, but behind the scenes all of us are working much harder. You have to, when you look at how tough it is with any club and in any sport in today’s marketing world.’
Sowing seeds for more than grassroots rugby
Apprentice groundsman determined to play a part on the playing side as well-despite his comparatively young age, 20-year-old Myles Landick hopes to achieve success in two walks of life. First is his rugby; for after a year as vice-captain at Les Quennevais, he made a determined effort to lose four and a half stones and become a starter for Jersey RFC 1sts this pre-season. From 22 and a half stones he is now down to 18, and looks more relaxed on the pitch in his slimmer figure. Second is his ability off the pitch but, in retrospect, on it again – this time as apprentice groundsman at St Peter, a job he began only this week. Talk to him about either commitment, and his enthusiasm is just the same.
’I know that there are technical details I have to learn about,’ he said of his role as groundsman of the five pitches that the JRFC now have. ’And what the ordinary spectator won’t realize is that every pitch is entirely different to each other. ’It’s not hard to cut and trim the grass, but spiking the land, and working out the different lengths of grass on each pitch is different again. My dad [Steve Landick of Parks and Gardens, Transport and Technical Services] is giving me advice and I’m going on a spraying course in October and, through the RFU, eventually hope to become a member of the national institute of groundsmanship. ’Looking after a pitch can be harder than you think.’
So to rugby. And Myles knows that he is lucky to be part of the first team set up at the Jersey Rugby Club.
’Working with and for the club is my life at the moment,’ he said. ’Because of my new job – I started last Tuesday – I can look after the pitches and then work in the gym. And although I played for Les Quennevais last year, and was vice-captain, I made a conscious decision to get fit again and to get myself into the Jersey first team this year. I played in last season’s Fallaize Cup and, for Les Q, and was pleased that the westerners finished by just one point behind the third-placed club in the JRA league. ’If anyone looked at me before a big game, they’d know how nervous I am. I needed a year at Les Quennevais to help steady my nerves. But this year everything’s different, and I appreciate Ben Harvey’s faith in me. ’I’ve really enjoyed the pre-season games and I also know how competitive it is up at the club. Any one of seven props could be in the side. At the moment it’s me. And even my dad’s now coming around to watching rugby, after being a football man all of his life! ’There are some lovely people at St Peter who have helped me over the years and I thank in particular Albert Hawksworth, the premises manager. But as a footballer, who stood in goal at Rozel at the age of 15, I’ve made a new life for myself. I still get nervous before a game but I’m living to control those nerves. ’I think I’ve proved myself so far. And I’d like to think that I’ll be a prop for Jersey for the next few years.’
Harvey’s focus is on St Peter
JERSEY coach Ben Harvey isn’t interested in the stats from other clubs.
’On the mainland there’s so much movement between clubs that no-one knows what to expect,’ he explained. ’My main priority is in dealing with the players I have at my disposal. ’I believe that we’re stronger this year and some of the players we have introduced to the club will be a bonus, not just for the way they play, but also for what they can contribute to the other players beneath them. ’We have to build on a club philosophy, not just a first XV philosophy. And the club at the moment is heading in the right direction.’ Jersey is fortunate that its position, as a Channel Island off the French coach and a glorious place to live, means it can attract high quality players from around the world.
Second row player Jim Brownrigg wants to live here. So does No 12 South African-born Donovan Sanders. Meanwhile Nathan Kemp, Kiwi hooker (and international) plus captain ’V’ Viaoleti, have both made their homes here.And in addition, often in contrast to the sides they play against each week, Jersey have an established group of home-grown players with every intention of moving up the table.
’Age is irrelevant. If they’re good enough, they’ll be considered for the side,’ said Harvey. ’Take Marcus Nobes. I told him last season that he was too old to play, but he out-performed himself in fitness training and proved himself to be worth his place in the Siam Cup. ’Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, Dan McAviney might weigh only eight stones, but he’s a rare talent for the future. The door’s always open, not half-closed, and I appreciate the talent we’re finding through the Academy. ’The squad players are already fitter this season than last, and I appreciate the commitment of some of the JRA players, including Nick Trower, who’s probably not realized yet what a good player he can become. ’And there are also good young players around, who ought to be looking to make a first XV start, once they get older, including the likes of centre Aaron Young, Dominic Mayo, Luke Huelin and Harry Cochrane. ’What they have to realise is that, if they want to pursue their sport, the only way is up. And that’s why I’m a club coach rather than the coach of a Jersey 1st XV.’
A harder, faster game than 12 years ago – so reduce the risks
A professional rugby club can’t operate without a slick operation to care for its players. For that reason Jersey’s coach Ben Harvey asked Lisa Mann, to come onboard. That was a year ago and since then Lisa and her team have looked after every player from the 1st XV to the vets, to the Jersey Academy.
’That was virtually a year ago to this day,’ explained Lisa. ’And since then we’ve introduced Hannah de Luca, Laura Cattell, Josie Bruce and Ciara Ahern to the club. ’I’m used to this role, having worked with Wakefield and Yorkshire players, plus players from the north of England. ’A club’s only as good as the players it gets, but I see my role as screening players to improve their game and to help them not run the risk of injury. ’There’s a lot of work that we do behind the scenes, mainly looking after muscle and neck injuries, and the injuries I have treated remind me that this is a faster, harder contact sport now, compared to 12 years ago.’Most players are faster and quicker and stronger and you have to deal with their injuries as soon as they take place.
’It’s been two years on a roller-coaster ride of a progression through the side, but the club has become intensely professional. ’I’ve been impressed by what I’ve seen so far this season and genuinely believe they’re good enough to win promotion. ’They have enough passion and drive for it. ’I can’t say who’s the fittest player at the club but Donovan Sanders is quite fit, with plenty of gas in his tanks, while David McCormack is also fit and from the local players, Ed Dawson and Charlie Clyde-Smith have been training hard.
’We’re not affiliated to the Hospital, but we do look after our players whenever we can. We’re based at the medical centre in Gloucester Street and we’ve been there for over a year now. And we nurture our own. Our telephone number is 490312. But I’m not touting for business. I just want Jersey to get out of this league as quickly and as easily as they can.’
Ready for the challengers
THE RFU’s summer reorganisation of the divisions puts Jersey into the National category for the first time. And it will be far from easy to gain promotion from an extended league, which this season contains 14 clubs. Not least because many of the first XVs they will play against are county champions.
In the league shake-up there are no major surprises other than one. For Hayward’s Heath, the bottom club side last year, has been invited back into the league following the domino-effect of Halifax RFC pulling out of their northern league, which in turn has meant that Luton have been moved to the Midlands to ensure that, nationally, each league has a equal quota of teams. Fancied Old Albanians have benefited by enjoying a working relationship with Saracens, mainly because of their excellent out-of-London facilities, while Havant have ’lost’ players both to Portsmouth and to Bournemouth – a side which Jersey beat 12-7 in the first warm-up match of the season. In rugby, as in other sports, there is always a fluidity of movement. However, what follows is a potted guide to the sides Jersey will face this season, home and away.
Bracknell
Jersey’s opening day hosts, the highly-fancied Bracknell, were relegated from the old national leagues in 2005/06, but made the play-off stages of South-West I last season when they lost to Barnes. Coached then by former England player, Chris Sheasby, the club, ambitious to win promotion this year, have promoted Ken Hopkins, formerly a school-teacher at Wellington College, Berkshire, as head coach. As schoolteacher in charge of the College’s 1st XV they went 55 successive matches undefeated. Last season Bracknell reached the National RFU Under 17 Plate Final at Worcester RFC and with a 100% record won the Oxfordshire Berkshire & Bucks League. This season Hopkins will be supported by forwards coach Greg Anstead while position of Academy Director has been taken by another former Bracknell player and 1st team captain Martin Radford. Bracknell currently have 20 junior academy players playing for Berkshire and one to look out for is under-20s No 10, the gifted Matt Morris.
North Walsham
Between 1990 and 2008 North Walsham competed in National Division Three South, making it Norfolk’s only National League rugby team, but the team were relegated to London Division One for the 2008-09 season after defeat to Lydney in 2008. Already this season the 1st XV have had meeting with lead coaches Nick Greenhall and Tim Malone and after finishing ninth in the division last season – six places behind Jersey – they are looking for a top four place come next April. Having renewed their commitment to the club by signing new contracts, Greenhall and Malone introduced the players to the newly-appointed director of rugby, Jamie Warner, whose role will be to work as a link between the coaches and players and club officials. This, says club chairman John Farrer, will allow the coaches to get on with the job they are employed to do. Justin Loveridge will coach the backs this season with Andy Hargrave looking after the forwards. They are Jersey’s second opponents of the season when they host Ben Harvey’s boys on 12 September. Big winners at the venue last season, Jersey will not, however, be looking forward to the long coach journey beyond Norwich.
Sutton and Epsom
Sutton & Epsom RFC’s new former London Irish head coach Terry O’Connor will be occasionally helped this season by former England half-back Paul Hodgson. Twenty-year-old scrum-half Steve Munford has taken over from last season’s captain, prop Graham Hill, as decision-maker in his side, and the club, which finished in the bottom half of the table last year despite scoring nearly 300 points, are aiming for a top-three placing. Finances will be a key to Sutton’s success – or lack of it – for as O’Connor, who last season was working with Jersey’s old rivals Chobham RFC explained: ’It is great to work with these more community based sides especially when the spirit of the club overcomes its lack of resources to create success above the teams expected ability. Sutton is a well organised club with great spirit and I intend that they should perform above expectations.’ With that in mind it is no surprise that the club’s 1st XV relies heavily on products from its Academy, including Adam Cooper and Luke Davis, plus Chris York and George Lowe who took part in the under-20 World Cup, for England, in Japan last year. Last season the club, who will be the first league visitors to St Peter on Saturday 19 September, retained the Surrey county cup.
Diss
Newcomers to the league, last season Diss were named as team of the year by Rugby World magazine. Promoted to the new national division, Diss rightfully came through a tough league programme last season before beating Letchworth Garden City 33-12 to top London League 2 North. Their director of rugby, Henry Lind, and head coach Gavin Brock, produced an expansive, open style game last season, taking into account the speed they had on the wing in the guise of Alex Kelsall. Last year’s skipper was also their main points scorer, kicker Adam Williamson. Defensively Diss are vulnerable, but their scrum-half, Rick Holt, and No 10, Pete Chartier, give guidance to a club whose aim is to maintain their status in a league they’ve never climbed to before. Diss only lost two games in London 2 North last season and scored over 500 points.
Old Albanians
Running six senior teams each week, with one of the largest mini and junior sections in the country, Old Albanians last year celebrated their sixth consecutive season in Powergen London One. Their coaching team is led by Bruce Millar, ex Saracens chief, with Mark Langley, Dave Whyman and also player-coaches Richard Gregg and Barbarian Gregg Botterman in support. Their involvement with Saracens RFC has also blossomed during the close season for the club play and practise at the 70-acre Woollams Playing Fields, one of the UK’s largest sports complexes and acknowledged to be one of the finest field sports facilities in the country. From their website we are told that Saracens are also basing their training there and that Albanians chairman Andrew Mills-Baker is delighted about their arrival ’a massive boost.’ Reading between the lines, Old Albanians could well be beefed up with former Saracens’ players.
Hayward’s Heath
Haywards Heath have been reinstated in the division and they also have new coaching staff, led by player/coach Adam Vander who represented England at U16, Colts and U21 levels. He was also an England sevens’ player and would be playing professionally if a horrific foot injury hadn’t curtailed his career prematurely. Their hopes are mainly to remain mid-table and they will rely heavily on home-grown talent rather than by investing in more players from overseas.
Bishop’s Stortford
Bishop’s Stortford finished mid-table last year, conceding almost as many points as they scored while winning as many games as they won. Their most ’famous son’ is England international Ben Clarke and the Hertfordshire club runs five senior sides under the stewardship of chairman of selectors, Chris ’Diddy’ Byatt and senior club coach Peter Engledow, assisted by Mick Coleman. Unlike many of the other clubs in the division the coaching staff remains unchanged.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth’s inability to score plus a leaky defence meant that they never realized their potential last year and finished the season close to the bottom of the table. However, despite losing several of their Australasian players, plus Graham Butterworth, who has left to captain Havant, they have recruited virtually an entire new front row, including Kiwi Cameron Cranie, tighthead Steve Fitzgerald, from Trojans, Omeed Matini from Havant and hooker Andy Tart, a schoolteacher, also from Havant. As Portsmouth look to rebuild their entire pack they also include in their squad second row players Sam Lilley and Alex O’Connor plus, in the back row, New Zealander Cameron Hayton. Two other players have also joined Portsmouth from Havant including No 10 Keith Molyneux. Ian Chandler is head coach while Nick Cooper is backs/player coach. Jason Ford is their forwards coach and Andy Fields looks after conditioning. First XV captain is Jon Wood.
Basingstoke
Basingstoke are newcomers to the league, having won promotion last year from London II. According to their own website, ’the coaching team of Jim Kelly, Gareth Lewis, Lee Johnson, and Richard Cheetham, ex players of renown, have developed an open and exciting style of play, which suits our young squad’. In winning promotion most of their tries came through the threes, with 2008/9 captain Simon Appleby often being at the hub of them. Meanwhile, Kelly earned Basingstoke promotion at the first time of asking as well as putting on his boots once or twice, to help beat opponents like Thanet – 62-0. Former Richmond first XV player Andrew Byett plays at centre and the side will make it tough for others to beat them – their defence is excellent and with ball in hand they like running the ball. In January 2007, the Club was awarded the RFU Seal of Approval, something that the Jersey Academy covet.
Dorking
Despite losing to Sutton and Epsom 27-41 in the Surrey Cup final, Dorking’s promotion from London II after their play-off with Staines which they won in a cliff-hangar, 11-7, was no more than they deserved. According to the locals at the club, the reason for their promotion and that famous victory over Staines came about because of their excellent coaching team, which includes Richie Andrews, Jim Evans and England elite player/coach Paul Hodgson who will be assuming more of the coaching duties this coming year. They could also be boosted by South African skipper Armand Roux who, at the end of last season, offered to lead Dorking through the ranks of National Division III rugby, depending on other commitments
Havant
Boasting that they are the south coast’s most successful club, Havant RFC have dropped into Division III, but with every intention of moving straight back again. With six senior club sides, plus an ambitious head coach in Simon Burns, alongside director of rugby Adam King, they surely have the potential to do just that. First team captain is Graham Butterworth. However, Havant have a basic problem which is endemic to many near-successful UK sides. They cannot keep the players who would guarantee them promotion, or a secure place in any league at any level. So while they were, technically, on the verge of being one of the best 20 clubs in the UK at the end of the 1991/1992 season, by 2007/8 they saw their entire back division move to freshly promoted teams, including London Scottish and Mounts Bay RFC. A side which, last year, relied heavily on superior pack power with Greg Sullivan scoring eight tries, Tom Sullivan four, Havant have no intention of staying in this league for long. They have lost players to both Portsmouth and Bournemouth come the twilight hours between seasons but they are arguably one of the favourites to march right out of this division and straight into National II.
Hertford
Hertford RFC, Jersey captain Talite Violetti’s former club, only lost 20-13 at St Peter last season and are, arguably, the dark horses of this season’s campaign. Their director of rugby is Clive Mann, who oversees coaches Graeme Walters, Stuart Brady and Nick Lloyd – only one of whom coached the 1st XV last year. In their friendly pre-season loosener against National 3 South West side, Maidenhead, they won 15-13, but only because of the boot of debutant full-back Rob Richardson. A side, like several others in this league, which will rely on teenagers rather than experience, Hertford aren’t to be taken lightly (they finished just below Jersey in last year’s table and scored nearly 400 points) Hertford will be ambitious but have a problem in not being able to stop other teams scoring against them. Just as they scored over 300 points last year, so they conceded over 200. However, their coaching staff’s philosophy seems to be ’if we score more than them, we’ll beat ’em’. They also have youth on their side.
Tring
Last season Tring conceded more points than any other but one club in their division. However, they also scored in excess of 300 points and despite losing to Jersey 15-35 in their first encounter, were prepared to run the ball from anywhere. Their policy of seeing the rugby pitch as a vast chessboard, in which the pieces never stay still, kept them in this division. Just, although they did upset Jersey with a late-season victory at St Peter. Their director of rugby is Peter Borg Neal and they will probably be content just to survive this season ahead of them. On paper at least they have good individual players, but are modest in their ambitions. First team captain is Steve Kempster.
Oiling the gears for the Island’s vital conveyor belt of talent
Jersey, perhaps more than most clubs with National League ambitions, need to grow their own players – and ensure each crop has the best possible chance to develop - Jersey RFC Academy chairman Kevin Lemasney wants a Seal of Approval. Not for himself, you understand, but for a club academy which currently has 465 registered juniors ranging in age from seven to 17.
’It’s a huge step for us to take,’ he explained, ’but a logical one.’ When you consider that the academy grows and grows each year and has grown to such an extent that the parents spend over £125,000 each year on travel alone, ignoring the £100,000-plus which sponsors pump into travel arrangements; and that each age group is led by a fully-qualified coach and that there are 70 adult volunteers looking after the Academy, a ’seal of approval’ is no more than the club deserves..
But what exactly IS the RFU’s ’Seal of Approval’? An initiative prompted by Community Rugby and Sport England, the official definition talks about ’good practice’ within a club and offers a layman’s guide, which includes the following. Accreditation is based on the belief that safe, effective, child friendly club standards are met before the ’Community Rugby Mini and Youth Seal of Approval’ can be given. For that, a club has to work with a rugby development officer (Jersey have recently appointed Dave McCormack to that role) to ascertain development needs. After that a plan will be produced by the club and ratified by the RDO and the regional development manager. This plan will continually be evaluated and approval is based on a three year rolling award system. However, a club can qualify within a year BUT only if a three-year implementation plan is produced which in turn will be looked at over that period to see if the criteria are being met and followed.
In summary ’the award will be indicative of the quality of provision a club offers and its commitment to the development of young rugby players.’ The criteria within this framework are far more demanding than the words ’good practice’ might suggest. But Lemasney believes it will mark another remarkable development on the rung of the Academy’s obvious success, both within the Channel Island and within Hampshire.
’I don’t get involved in the coaching – there are far better coaches than me!’ the genial Irishman, through and through a Munster supporter explains, adding that his own involvement with the Academy came about virtually from the moment he arrived in Jersey from 2002, after he had spent 17 years in Switzerland. ’Not much rugby is played out there,’ he added, ’but we came to Jersey in September 2001 and by Janaury 2002 my son was in the under-10s and loving every minute of it.’
So, as many other touchline parents have found over the years, eventually he became sucked into the organisational side of the club and has been chairman since 2008. ’I would hope that my legacy will have been to look at the wider picture; to look at least two or three years ahead and to put a business plan in place for my successor,’ he said. ’I don’t get involved in the coaching. And I don’t think anyone in management should be indespensible. I’d like to think that if I left, I’d put enough in place that others can step in, see the path ahead clearly, and follow it.’
Self-effacing, with an Irish charm, Lemasney recognises the importances of sponsors Dominion Fiduciary Services, Ashburton and Ronez and his business plan for the coming season is so detailed that sponsorship logos are expected to be prominently displayed as and when necessary . . . right down to featuring on every match ball.
For with principal sponsoors Dominion alone pledging themselves to virtually half a million pounds over a five year period, Academy rugby is no longer just a game, it’s a business, and to ensure success on the way to that coveted seal of approval, if the finances aren’t in place, as well as the right people in the right positions for them, all chances of acquiring it go back into the melting pot.