17/05/2016

Jersey RFC have confirmed the signing of winger George Watkins from Bristol Rugby in time for the 2016/17 season.

25-year-old Watkins made his Bristol debut as a teenager in 2009, having become part of the Bristol Academy after leaving Colston's School in the city. He became a regular member of the Bristol starting XV in 2010/11 and scored 58 tries in the next four seasons before signing for Cardiff Blues in 2014.

Watkins returned to Bristol from Wales towards the end of 2014, and has made a total of 116 appearances for the club, scoring 66 tries. During the second half of the 2015/16 season he was loaned to Moseley, playing eight Greene King IPA Championship games, including the visit to Jersey in February.

Jersey Head Coach Harvey Biljon said: "George has been one of the stand-out wingers in the Championship dating back to my time with Pirates, and is a proven try-scorer with genuine pace. He's had fewer opportunities to shine this past season, and I know he's very motivated to show what he's capable of.

"We have some exciting talent in our back-line for next season, which will lead to some tough competition for starting places which I think will bring out the best in the players."

Jersey's squad-building ahead of the 2016/17 campaign is almost complete. So far a total of 32 players have been confirmed as members of the 1st team squad:

Front Row: Jake Armstrong, Joe Buckle, Simon Kerrod, Sean McCarthy, Nick Selway, Mark Tampin, Marc Thomas, Jake Woolmore

Second Row: Nick Campbell, Uili Kolo'ofa'i, Dave McKern, Pierce Phillips, James Voss

Back Row: Max Argyle, James Doyle, James Freeman, Gary Graham, Nick Haining

Half-backs: Brendan Cope, Joel Dudley, Sami Fisilau, Kieran Hardy, Sam Katz

Backs: Ross Adair, Jack Cuthbert, Jordan Davies, George Eastwell, Regan King, Rich Lane, Tua Otto, Lewis Robling, George Watkins

Pre-season training for the Reds will start in June ahead of pre-season matches in August - the details of these games are set to be announced tomorrow (Wednesday) - and the start of the Championship season in September.

George Watkins pictures courtesy JMPUK/Bristol Rugby