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Jersey Reds host their second pre-season friendly today as the Islanders entertain Ampthill.
The Bedfordshire side finished fourth in National One last season and will face Harvey Biljon’s side who were buoyed by a seven-try, 47-5 thrashing of Coventry last week.
The Reds coach has promised to rotate his squad to ensure that all players obtain pre-season game time to press their claim for starting places, with league action starting next month.
Ampthill, coached by former Wales stand-off Paul Turner, have worked their way up the RFU pyramid following the introduction of league rugby in the late 1980s and the two teams were at the same level in 2009-10.
The pair met at Twickenham in the short-lived Champions Play-off series in 2010 with Jersey securing a 21-12 victory in front of over 1,000 travelling supporters from the Island.
The Ampthill squad contains four capped Tonga internationals, Vili Ma'asi, Aleki Lutui, Paino Hehea and Maama Molitika, while Oris Nawaqaliva is a Fiji Under-20 international.
Mr Turner’s squad also includes Brett Sturgess, making his debut for his new club after nine seasons with Premiership outfit Exeter Chiefs, plus two other summer signings, Ben Calder from London Scottish and Steffan Jones from Bedford Blues.
The Reds face Aviva Premiership side Worcester Warriors next Saturday and the Greene King IPA Championship season starts on the first weekend of September, when Jersey take on Richmond.
The first home league game of the season against Bedford Blues is on Saturday, September 10th. Kick off today is 3pm and admission is £5 for adults, free for under-18s.
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