Jersey name Harvey Biljon as new head coach

Championship side Jersey have appointed South African Harvey Biljon as their new head coach on a three-year deal.

He joins from Cornish Pirates where he was assistant coach and spent four-and-a-half years.

Biljon, 36, will work with forwards coach Steve Boden, who will remain in interim charge for Jersey's match against London Welsh on Saturday.

He replaces Ben Harvey, who quit as director of rugby last month with the club second from bottom of the table.

"We had a very long meeting with Harvey [Biljon] last week and were extremely impressed with his ambition and enthusiasm," said chairman Bill Dempsey.

"We wanted to appoint someone to take charge and consolidate our position in the Championship after a challenging first half of the season.

"Some high-calibre rugby CVs have been considered, but we are convinced we have found the right man for the job, and are grateful that Cornish Pirates have agreed to release Harvey from his contract so that he can take charge almost immediately."

Biljon, a former London Wasps scrum-half, helped guide Pirates to the British and Irish Cup title in 2010 and the Championship play-offs in 2011 and 2012.

He was with the squad when they visited St Peter in November when the islanders grabbed a last-gasp 27-25 win.

"I was standing among the crowd watching the game and sensed real pride and enthusiasm among the supporters," he said.

"I met Bill Dempsey and [business manager] John Poynton last week and was struck by their ambition for the club, and convinced that it was something I wanted to play a part in as head coach.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for me after four years coaching in the Championship, and I can't wait to get started.

"My first priority will be to sit down and talk with Steve Boden and then to the players, and then I can begin reviewing the structures at the club over the coming weeks and plan how I intend to move things forward."