Combined Channel Islands rugby team to play Poland
The combined Channel Islands rugby team won their first game last year when they beat Sweden [BBC] A combined Channel Islands rugby side will play Poland in July. The side played their first-ever match last year when they beat Sweden 66-28 at Footes Lane in Guernsey. The fixture, which is due to be played on 25 July, will take place at St Peter in Jersey.
Poland are currently second in this year's Rugby Europe Trophy - the second tier of non-Six Nations rugby in the continent. But they lead the two-year table after results from last season are taken into account and could earn promotion to the top-tier Rugby Europe Championship. Jersey RFC player Eryk Swiech was recently called up to Poland's squad for their game against Croatia and has been part of the island side that won the Regional One South Central title on Saturday.
They have earned promotion to National Two level - the same tier that Guernsey Raiders play in. The Raiders are currently eighth of 14 teams in National Two East having won 10 of their 21 games this season. The Channel Island side was formed last year to give the island not hosting the Siam Cup - the annual clash between Guernsey and Jersey - a marquee fixture at the end of the season.
This year's fixture will take place in pre-season due to the Siam Cup being relatively late in the calendar on 16 May.