Island teams 'raring to go' for rugby showdown

Sark Shags will host the Alderney Ridunians with kick-off at 12:30 BST

An annual tradition dating back more than two decades returns later when two Channel Island rugby teams meet for their annual showdown.

The match between the Sark Shags and the Alderney Ridunians kicked off at 12:30 BST at the Millennium Field, Sark, followed by entertainment at The Captains Bar.

A spokesman for the Sark Shags said: "Sark's summer calendar wouldn't be complete without the return of a true island tradition."

Alex Purdie, player and club secretary at Alderney Rugby Club, added: "We didn't get over last year because of the weather so we are all feeling really keen to get on to the front foot and have a good match." He said his team was "raring to go".

"We have had two really hard training sessions this week including one on the beach, which involved lots of sand in eyes and mouths," he said.

He added the friendly rivalry made it a great event both on and off the field.

"Alderney and Sark are in many ways two of the most comparable islands in the Channel Islands," he said.

"We are both kind of little brothers to Guernsey and Jersey and we see a lot of similarities between the people who live there and the way of life.

"The same goes for rugby. We have been playing Sark for the last few years.

"On the pitch it can get a bit rowdy but off the pitch it is a good weekend. The hospitality in Sark is fantastic and the team and the players organise it."