Reds field four debutants for Championship opener

Harvey Biljon has named four new signings in his starting XV for Jersey Reds' Championship opener at newly-promoted Coventry.

Number eight Kyle Hatherell, half-back pair Will Homer and Brett Herron, and wing Koch Marx are the new faces in Jersey's line-up.

Five more summer arrivals are on the bench as the Reds begin their seventh season in English rugby's second tier.

Jersey, who have finished fifth for the last two seasons, do not play their first home game until the end of September, following trips to Coventry, Bedford Blues, and London Scottish.

"I think it's very tough, but surprisingly every time we're up against it, the boys come through", the Reds' head coach told ITV News.

"Those challenges galvanise us and I see this being no different. We've got to take the results out of the equation and just make sure we're putting in the performances, learning and building each week", he added.

Coventry were promoted as champions of National One after eight seasons outside the Championship.

"It's going to be a huge occasion for their club, obviously a very emotional affair with them being promoted back up to the Championship after many years", Biljon said.

"If you look at their recruitment over the summer they've got a lot of Championship, Premiership, and international experience so I wouldn't take this as a National One team by any stretch."

"I think they're going to be a pretty experienced outfit wanting to prove a point."

Coventry include three former Reds in their team for Saturday, among them Jersey boy James Voss.

The local academy product signed for Leicester Tigers at the end of last season before joining Coventry on a season-long loan.

Jersey Reds squad to face Coventry:

Starting XV: Auguy Slowik; Koch Marx, Apakuki Ma'afu, Mark Best, Jason Worrall; Brett Herron, Will Homer; Roy Godfrey (c), Nick Selway, Alec Clarey, Jerry Sexton, Dave McKern, Max Argyle, Conor Joyce, Kyle Hatherell.

Replacements: Charlie Maddison, Cameron Holenstein, Leeroy Atalifo, Charlie Beckett, Janco Venter, Hilton Mudariki, James Newey.