Two young Guernsey men had their hopes of making the Hampshire team dashed after Guernsey Airport was closed because of a shortage of firemen.

Luke Jones and Jordan Gilvear were due to fly to the UK for Sunday's final trials for Hampshire's junior team.

But illness amongst firemen meant there were not enough on duty to allow larger planes to land at the airport.

"They're not going to be given the chance again," Guernsey rugby academy's Geoff Renouf told BBC Guernsey.

Airport firefighters have been in a staffing and pay dispute with the island's government for six months.

"There's not a lot you can do about it. I just blame the politicians and the authorities for not getting this sorted out. It's not doing the island any good in producing good sports people for the future," Renouf added.

"We're in the process of trying to write to the Hampshire Union to see if they can be given any dispensation but to be quite honest with you I doubt if that'll come to any fruition."

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