TOMORROW will be a massive day for young Jersey rugby players in the UK.

Jersey RFC’s U19s travel to play old rivals Havant in the first round of the National U19 Cup, while the Jersey RFC Academy U16s kick-off their Hampshire Division I campaign away to Andover.

Last season Jersey advanced to the later stages of the U19 National Plate, narrowly exiting to Exeter Chiefs at St Peter, so hopes are high that another good run can be staged. Havant, of course, will provide a stern test, but Jersey have won the last two cup encounters, a Hampshire U18 semi-final and quarter-final, so they will travel with the conviction they can do well again.

The youth squad will be strengthened with the inclusion of regular senior players Michael Le Bourgeois, Mark Livesey, Joe Ellyatt (pictured) and Chris Pople, so fingers will be crossed they all have a clean bill of health after this afternoon’s big London I match at St Peter.