Biljon Signs New Deal Until 2029

Jersey Reds Director of Rugby Harvey Biljon has signed a new deal to keep him at the club until the summer of 2029.

Biljon, who joined the Reds in 2014, has just led the side to their best-ever Championship finish.

The season has just ended after an agonising Championship Cup semi-final defeat to Coventry.

Biljon says this new deal proves what a great place Jersey is and how much support he's had from the club.

"Especially with the exciting news that the club wants to go in, I think it made sense to be on that journey and something I'm really proud of and want to be part of.

Our chairman Mark Morgan had to continue to remind me after we lost in the semi-final that we have had a successful season because it did feel a little bit disappointing.

The squad has grown over the year, I'm excited for next season already. I think we've got a fantastic player support team around the players and a squad with a fair bit of continuity going into next season with some exciting additions on the way.

I think we're in a position where we can only get better again."

The Reds are hoping to get new backing to allow them to challenge for the Championship title and be in a position to get promoted to the top flight.

Biljon says a programme will be put in place to evolve and get better.

"Naturally, there is a staged approach about how you put your programme together, but a lot of that will come down to the facility and infrastructure and ability to actually take an opportunity if next level rugby comes to the island.

We've got to make sure across the board that we're ready both on-field and off-field."

Jersey Reds Chairman Mark Morgan has described the news as a milestone for the club.

"Harvey has played a pivotal role in enabling the Reds to become an established force in the Championship, through to this season where we were part of a four-way contest for the league title until the closing weeks of the campaign.

What’s shone through very clearly is that Harvey doesn’t feel a sense of ‘job done’ but has shown a real desire to take the club forward.

It’s no surprise that his achievements here have attracted interested from top-flight clubs, so we’re delighted that he’s committed to us for the next seven years."