Ex Jersey players find homes in Premiership after 'incredibly strange' 2 weeks

Former Jersey Reds scrum-half James Elliott and prop Sam Grahamslaw have been snapped up by Gallagher Premiership outfits Newcastle Falcons and Bristol Bears just weeks after their former outfit went bust.

The 25-year-old No9 hails from County Durham and came through the Falcons' academy before playing for Yorkshire Carnegie and Jersey, while the 24-year-old loosehead had spells at Leicester Tigers and Edinburgh Rugby before playing for last season's Championship winners.

The pair both started for the Reds in their 34-10 Premiership Rugby Cup win over Bath last month.

Ahead of his move to the Falcons, Elliott described what the past few weeks have been like.

"It’s been a crazy week or so with everything that’s happened at Jersey," he said. "But I’m grateful to be back with Newcastle Falcons and I’m keen to get amongst it.

"I still don’t think I’ve fully got my head round what’s happened, to be honest.

"To have more than three years at a club and for it all to stop with zero notice – it was just incredibly strange. That’s the only word I can really use, but everyone here has been really welcoming. It could have been a lot harder, and I know for a lot of the Jersey players it will have been.

"Jersey was great for me but I’d been there for three seasons, and it’s probably good for me to see another environment and keep pushing myself. I’m really happy that it’s back at a club I love, and that I’ve got the chance to work with the players and coaches we have here at the Falcons."

Elliott's new Newcastle head coach Alex Codling said: "James is a local lad who came through our academy, and sometimes in rugby the journey isn’t always a straight line.

"He’s had a really tough situation with Jersey folding, but it’s a positive thing for us to be able to give an opportunity to a talented young player who loves this club."

Grahamslaw's new Bristol coach Pat Lam said: "With the current injury to Yann Thomas, we’re pleased to bring in a player of Sam’s ability and potential to give us extra cover at loosehead ahead of the new season.

"Jersey had a fantastic season in 2022/23, winning the Championship title under the leadership of Harvey Biljon, and their forward pack was a key part of that.

"We saw the development of by James Dun during his time on the island, so we’re excited to see how Sam progresses with the Bears."