VICTORIA COLLEGE under-16s lifted the inaugural Lord Jersey Cup yesterday, but it was a case of winners all round as this new initiative for schools rugby was launched at Jersey RFC.

World Cup winner Kyran Bracken was flown in to help the Earl of Jersey, William Villiers, present his stunning trophy and spread around over £5,000 in vouchers for schools rugby equipment. And plans are in hand to expand the tournament, with Guernsey and UK schools to be invited in future.

It was, however, rugby in the raw yesterday, the wet, muddy, cold and windy conditions, prompting former England scrum-half Bracken, the latter-day ice skating star, to claim he was pleased to have retired.

Six schools contested the handsome trophy, surely one of the most impressive in CI sport, with Victoria College clear winners of the final, 26-0, over Les Quennevais, the other pool winners.

A penalty try awarded by ref Will Church sent them on their way, with Michael Spitall, James Hudson and captain tom Ellis also crossing the line the in last of the 20-minute 15-a-side matches. Scrum-half Danny McAviney, picked out for special mention by Bracken, kicked three conversions.

Third place went to Haute Vallee, who beat Le Rocquier 12-0 in the Shield final, with Hautlieu fifth after beating De La Salle 24-0 in the Plate final.

Lord Jersey was helped in the organisation of the tournament by rugby development officer Mark White, the staff of the Island’s secondary schools and Jersey RFC. The idea is to retain interest in the sport for this age group, which traditionally is the age at which most players drop out of team games.

Lord Jersey Rugby Plate: De La Salle 0, Hautlieu 24.

Shield: Le Rocquier 0, Haute Vallee 12.

Cup: Victoria College 26, Les Quennevais 0.

Tournament referees: Oliver Gleave and Will Church.

Vouchers to purchase rugby equipment: 1st, Victoria College ฃ750; 2nd, Les Quennevais ฃ650; 3rd, Haute Vallee ฃ500; 4th, Le Rocquier ฃ400; 5th, Hautlieu ฃ350; 6th, De La Salle ฃ300. All participating schools ฃ300.