JERSEY RFC could be offering semi-professional contracts to their senior squad members next season.

Following an extraordinary general meeting of the Jersey Rugby Club last week it was agreed that while the club would continue to employ at least two full-time professionals for next season, funding available for other full-time pros – the club currently employ four full-time players – might now be divided between the squad players on a semi-professional basis.

According to chairman Bill Dempsey, the amount of money currently available would be shared out in a very different way: ‘In the current economic climate we’ve got to change the way we do things,’ he explained.

‘We don’t see this as a backward step at all. We need to have a more sustainable policy and reward the players for the tremendous efforts they are putting in under coach Ben Harvey.’

• Jersey RFC’s team captain ‘V’ [Talite Ki A Vaioleti) is one of two full-time professional players on a two-year contract. A Tonga international, he will be attending the national team trials this summer before heading back to the Island