Talite Viaolite, of Jersey, scores a try in a match against Bishop's Stortford

JERSEY RFC’s first term as a national league club next season will be sprinkled with Hampshire ‘derby’ matches.

Havant lose their long-standing tag as the county’s top-ranked club following relegation this term and they will now line-up in National Three (London) along with three other Hampshire-affiliated clubs: Jersey, who finished a tremendous third in their first season at this level; Portsmouth, who avoided the drop after a torrid year; and Basingstoke who are promoted in style from London Division II South after registering 18 wins from 22 games.

The RFU have restructured the whole league set-up, giving Jersey national status for the first time after their debut season in London I resulted in them playing a full part in a promotion race – despite going four games without a win early on in the season.

So with Jersey hoping to go from strength to strength, they have the additional incentive of attempting to finish as Hampshire’s top club, with the fixtures against Havant, in particular, promising to be real crackers. Jersey did the double over Portsmouth this season, but it is a long time since they have faced Havant or Basingstoke.