Guernsey Rugby Football Club is an amateur[1][2] rugby union team who play at Footes Lane in St Peter Port on the Channel Island of Guernsey. The club was formed in 1928.[3] The club runs two senior teams, a veterans side and a colts side.[4]
 | ||
| Full name | Guernsey Rugby Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Hampshire RFU | |
| Nickname(s) | Raiders | |
| Founded | 1928 | |
| Location | Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands | |
| Ground(s) | Footes Lane (Capacity: 5,000 (720 seated)) | |
| Chairman | Andrea Harris | |
| President | Ady Le Page | |
| Coach(es) | Jordan Reynolds | |
| Captain(s) | Lewis Hillier | |
| League(s) | National League 2 East | |
| 2023–24 | 10th | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| www | ||
Their first XV, the Guernsey Raiders[5] currently play in level 4 (National League 2 East) following their promotion from London & South East Premier at the end of the 2019–20 season.
The Guernsey Raiders Ladies team plays in level 4, Women's National Challenge 1 South East (South).
History
Guernsey RFC were founded in 1928 and started playing in English leagues in 1987.[6] As a result of the high transport costs, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) funds the opposition team's travel when they play away at Guernsey as well as funding Guernsey's travel to England for league matches. Until 2010, the Hampshire Rugby Football Union also granted additional funding to help with the transport costs.[7]
In 2011, Guernsey had a new clubhouse constructed which was visited by The Princess Royal during her visit to Guernsey in November.[8] In 2012, after being promoted from London 1 South, Guernsey became the only fully amateur team in National League 3 London & SE.[9] Guernsey host annual "ladies days" during their season.[10]
Siam Cup
Guernsey annually play Jersey Reds in the inter-insular Siam Cup, the second oldest rugby honour contested after the Calcutta Cup. The host venue alternates yearly between Footes Lane and Jersey's St. Peter. The Siam Cup match is viewed as a season finale by the two clubs as the match is played after the regular league season has finished.[11] In 2010, a Guernsey player was found guilty of assaulting two Jersey players after a Siam Cup game.[12] Since Jersey began employing professional players they have dominated the inter island game. From 2016 in an attempt to even up the game only professional players who had been in Jersey for three years will be eligible for the annual match.[13]
Guernsey Ladies Rugby team
In 2012, Guernsey's women's team applied to join the English leagues. However the Rugby Football Union rejected their application on logistical grounds and also because the RFU Council had previously passed a moratorium to not admit to the English leagues, any further teams from offshore.[14]
In 2014–15 the decision was overcome and Guernsey Ladies (GLR) joined the Women's National Challenge South East South 2 league, which they won, earning promotion to Women's National Challenge South East South 1 for the 2015–16 season. In 2016-17 the Women again won the top position in their league becoming champions after winning 12 of the 14 season's matches.[15]
Men's seasons
- ‡ Leagues re-branded, with London 3 South West renamed London 2 South West
Women's seasons
Men's current standings
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TB | LB | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esher (C) | 26 | 22 | 0 | 4 | 1108 | 598 | +510 | 21 | 4 | 113 | Promoted |
| 2 | Barnes | 26 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 883 | 631 | +252 | 18 | 4 | 106 | |
| 3 | Dorking | 26 | 19 | 1 | 6 | 971 | 676 | +295 | 23 | 3 | 104 | |
| 4 | Henley Hawks | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 784 | 680 | +104 | 19 | 2 | 89 | |
| 5 | Tonbridge Juddians | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 844 | 714 | +130 | 20 | 7 | 85 | |
| 6 | Bury St Edmunds | 26 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 813 | 653 | +160 | 17 | 6 | 81 | |
| 7 | Canterbury | 26 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 808 | 736 | +72 | 16 | 5 | 73 | |
| 8 | Old Albanian | 26 | 12 | 0 | 14 | 802 | 828 | −26 | 17 | 4 | 69 | |
| 9 | Westcombe Park | 26 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 735 | 741 | −6 | 16 | 9 | 69 | |
| 10 | Guernsey Raiders | 26 | 11 | 0 | 15 | 685 | 856 | −171 | 16 | 2 | 62 | |
| 11 | Sevenoaks | 26 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 605 | 724 | −119 | 10 | 4 | 60 | |
| 12 | Worthing Raiders | 26 | 7 | 0 | 19 | 761 | 963 | −202 | 18 | 5 | 51 | |
| 13 | Wimbledon (R) | 26 | 6 | 1 | 19 | 686 | 899 | −213 | 13 | 5 | 44 | Relegated |
| 14 | North Walsham (R) | 26 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 432 | 1218 | −786 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
- Number of matches won
- Difference between points for and against
- Total number of points for
- Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
- Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated
Honours
Men's
- Siam Cup champions (15 times)
- Hampshire Bowl winners: 2002
- Level 8 Hampshire 1 champions: 2003–04,[17] promoted to level 7
- Level 7 London Division 2 South West champions: 2010–11,[17] promoted to level 6
- Level 6 London Division 1 South champions: 2011–12, promoted to level 5
- LSE Premier v SW Premier promotion play-off winners: 2017–18, promoted to level 4[18][2]
Women's
- Level 5 Women's National Challenge South East South 2 champions: 2014–15, promoted to level 4
- Level 4 Women's National Challenge South East South 1 champions: 2016–17, promoted to level 3
Notable players
- Luke Jones – originally played for Guernsey before moving to English Premiership team, Leicester Tigers and the Cornish Pirates.[19]
