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24 September 2014

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Latu, Yates and Dai Burton

Historic rugby signings

Jersey Rugby club has created history with the first ever signings of professional players.

We're used to hearing about the big bucks and the lifestyles of professional sportsmen - not to mention some of their more unseemly antics - but so far sport in Jersey has remained of the amateur variety, even though the standard in many cases is extremely high.

So Tuesday, 29 August was an historic one for Jersey Rugby Club. Two players, Kern Yates and Latu Makaafi put pen to paper at a ceremony at the club headquarters in St. Peter, with Nathan Kemp expected to sign his contract later this season.

The players

Kern Yates has been a professional player for over eleven years, and represented England at every level up to Under 21s. He’ll be assisting with coaching both the senior and the Academy sides.

Latu seems happy with things.....

Latu Makaafi, a Tongan under 21 international, played for the club last season to great effect – he was “Man of the Match” five times, including the Siam Cup, and remains a very popular and exciting player.

Nathan Kemp joined the club in January of last year, and was the nucleus of the club’s revival last season, when they remained unbeaten, and rose to 3rd in London 2 South with a tremendous run in the second half of the season.

"We’re very keen to bring through local talent"

Chris Scott, club chairman

He has played for New Zealand at every level up to the senior side, and is currently playing in his country’s Premiership Division. Once again, he’ll be assisting in coaching the first-team squad and will be helping the Rugby Development Officer with coaching school sides.

Higher standard

Director of coaching at Jersey Rugby Club, Dai Burton, is convinced this is the way forward for Jersey. “It looks like everyone is going that way, it’s what we want, it’s all about development of rugby in the island, it’s about getting us playing rugby at all standards, and a higher standard, and to get the best out of the players we have.”

But how do the amateur players feel about it all, like club captain Steve O’Brien? “It’s completely acceptable, and everyone’s very keen on it. It’s going to strengthen the whole club, and the whole island rugby scene.”

Local talent

Will there be more professional signings in time to come? Club chairman Chris Scott told BBC Radio Jersey: ”We would not be wishing to take on many more, because we’re very keen to bring through local talent, and of course there’s the cost. The balance between those two has to be right, and it’s important that people in Jersey who want to play rugby know that they can, if they’re good enough, make it into the first team.”

Jersey Rugby Club begin their new season on 09 September away to London Irish Amateurs, and the first home game will be a week later against Wimbledon at St Peter.

last updated: 30/08/06

Have Your Say

Are professional signings the best way forward?

tom jeggo
i love the under 12 academy so much!!! x x

chris
kern yates is cool! hes my cousin. get it there lad!!!

N
Latu Makaafi is such an exciting player! He is a pleasure to watch and it bring a little Tongan charm as well as skill the Jersey!..And i'm not just saying that cos he is an old friend!!

jersey ball boy
ross allan is asome get him back, matt banahan is a legand he has done as much as the pros and more get him over then we will start playing well. you should treat josh well he is the one how keeps our hopes up ofwinning something.

steve oz
jersey youth has so much talent why not give them a shot, eg. chris white and chris sprott who are playing for the royal navy 21's you also have josh and ross allen the list goes on...

Jersey fan
You guys have overlooked Ross Allan!!

Basil
Andy,We all realise the talent s of Matt Banahan. Once he has achieved what all our three pros have achieved, i.e. playing for his country, perhaps we will offer him a job in Jersey. I suggest that the "scouts" of the junior clubs start watching a few of the Academy games. There is enough local talent to field another three junior clubs.How would you like the JRFC to support the junior clubs?

A Rugby Fan
Dear Andy you obviously have never played the game before. Why would a player like Banahan want to play in London Div 2 when he has such a bright future at top flight. He will return to the Island when he has achieved all his goals in Rugby.If you believe the current pro's are half-baked the why dont you set up a one on one match, take your pick.

Andy
Yes but it is obvious that Jersey's greatest rugby talent is Banahan. We have a couple of half-baked pro's whilst Banahan is going for the big time.

Cherry
I congratulate the JRFC on securing the services of 3 pro players, it is great to see that standard of Rugby being played and coached in Jersey. However I do have to agree with BC; when will the JRFC acknowledge that there are other clubs in Jersey that also need support. I wonder if there will be any local clubs left for the developing local youngsters to play for, come to that, against. Rugby in Jersey should be for all, not just for those who belong to the JRFC.

kit chams
i think my brother is the best..GO JOSH!! xxx

BC
To Basil & Don. That sounds like a good start and will develop the Jersey RFC but it will be interesting tosee what, if anything, is done to develop the junior clubs in the island outside of the JRFC (this has already dropped from 10 teams ten years ago to 3 struggling teams presently). The current trend seems set to continue all the while JRFC is the only team promoted and viewed as superior to the remaining clubs. This will then leave players outside of the first XV with very little opposition to play against and with presuambly the increase in professionals being imported, local players will find their playing opportunites severly restricted.

Don
These 3 players are contracted to spend time in Schools and with the Youth teams. Their input into Rugby on the Island as a whole will be huge, an impressive step forward for Jersey Rugby -- not just Jersey RFC.

Basil
To BC. Since the arrival of the professionals the size of the Academy has almost doubled. All the money raised to pay the pros is being done by sheer hard work on behalf of a few individuals.The strength of island rugby will always be developed from the Jersey first team squad. All three pros are assisting in coaching the junior sides. We could never expect to have this type of expert coaching if we did not pay for it.

BC
No - why is the money not better spent developing rugby in the island, both in respect of youth and age group as well as the (few) junior clubs still playing over here

The Jersey Gays
We think both professionals are lovely!!!

local
banahan was too expensive for jersey. The pros here play for less than half what he gets paid.

The Jersey Girls
I think Kern Yates is the sexies man ever to grace the shores of Jersey. Thank god for professionalism

Andy Smith
The main 'local' talent plays for Bath. Have JRFC missed the boat with Banahan?

ben
I t could be the jrc have got it dead right - a bit of real professionalism plus the local talent - if it gells, wow...