Jersey RFC Academy have under-14s, U15s and U16s involved in regular Hampshire Division I action this season – with all their fixtures having to be playing in the UK

NEWS that the States 48-hour rule on schoolchildren’s visits to the UK will remain, in a bid to prevent the spread of swine flu, could have a ‘huge impact’ on sports teams in the Island.

It has been confirmed that as long as the Island remains in containment, with low numbers of new swine flu cases, that children returning from high risk areas, such as the UK and France, need to be kept out of school for 48 hours.

Therefore anyone travelling off Island for a sports competition and not returning to the Island until a Sunday would need to stay off school until the Wednesday.

Jersey’s Rugby Club Academy is one of the first to feel the effect of the decision as they have a full list of fixtures for the Hampshire Junior League in the UK – the first against Havant on 27 September.

Academy chairman Kevin Lesmasney said: ‘We are holding off on all trips that aren’t vital until the advice changes because we are taking the attitude that it’s school first and club second.’