This Is Guernsey

By Rob Batiste

THE island’s team of development officers is set to take in an eighth sport.

Rugby is keen to follow in the footsteps of squash  – who showed the way – athletics, football, cricket, hockey, table tennis and badminton. It’s vital for the sport’s progress,’ said first-XV skipper Andy Bailey (pictured).

‘This is the most important step forward in the club’s history. To keep moving forward, developing local talent and rugby across the island not just at youth and school level, this is a crucial position.’

GRUFC chairman Adie Le Page said that while it had only recently advertised the post, the club had been working towards it ‘for the last two or three years’.

In terms of hiring a full-time officer, Le Page described it as ‘early days yet’.

‘But obviously it must be very important [to have one] because everybody else is doing it.’

Bailey says his sport can’t afford to wait any longer.

‘We are already a long way behind other sports on the island who have long established DOs.  If you are going to attract the most talented young sportsmen you have to have a great infrastructure in place and present them with ambitious challenges and opportunities.

‘You only have to look at sports like cricket, table tennis and athletics to see what they are offering young sportsmen and women today. It’s important we understand we have no right to have these guys involved in rugby.

‘I think rugby has an enormous amount to offer that we players sometimes take for granted, but through a development officer we can get the game out to new players we would otherwise miss.

‘There are unique team skills and dynamics that I don’t believe you get in most team sports.

‘The balance between forwards and backs and the fact that you cannot win without one unit functioning.

‘The fact that players of all shapes and sizes are required and appreciated. The respect you must have for referees and officials. And probably rugby’s greatest asset is the camaraderie between your teammates.’

The chairman said discussions were ongoing with the Rugby Football Union as to what extent, if at all, it would contribute.

‘That I don’t know yet,’ said Le Page.

‘What I do know is that they are the employer, but we have to pay the wages.

‘In this day and age is seems you need somebody in a job full-time as opposed to someone doing it voluntarily.’