Guernsey and Hampshire's Luke Jones has signed for the Leicester Tigers Academy to cap an amazing year for the Channel Islander.  Luke became the first man from the Islands to earn an England Under 18 cap when he played against Ireland in April - scoring a try within moments in coming on the field -and everyone at Hampshire RFU wishes him every success.

In an interview given to the BBC website via BBC Guernsey, Luke said "I am over the moon, it's all a bit surreal but I'm really happy.

"I've been there twice and played a game for them but didn't expect it to become real and happen.

"I've been playing senior rugby (for Guernsey) for the past two season which has really helped step up my game."

Now he hopes to take it another step with his ambition "to be a professional player, playing for England hopefully - that's my main goal."

Peter Tom, chairman of Leicester Tigers and also a Guernsey resident, told the BBC, "I was in a very happy position being able to surprise Luke - it'll be an amazing experience for him.

"We have always placed great emphasis on growing our own players through our Academy and we're delighted to offer Luke the opportuity to join us.  We believe he will have a great future with the club and we look forward to welcoming him to Welford Road.

"We'll hopefully get him the chance to play with Nottingham, who we have an arrangement with - so as Jersey are in the same division as Nottingham, Luke might face them, which would be quite interesting.

"Both islands have fantastic facilities and punch way above their weight and produce the likes of Matt Banahan, who is playing for Bath and England as well as racing driver Andy Priaulx and tennis star Heather Watson amongst many others."

Luke, who has been a member of the Guernsey Rugby Club's Academy since the age of seven has also been named as one of the Guernsey Sport Commission's rising stars.

Mike Greenslade, Hampshire's Under 18 team manager was absolutely delighted with the news of Luke's inclusion at Leicester.  "It is brilliant and nothing more than he deserves," he said.  "He has shown his class throughout his time playing for Hampshire and it was only a matter of time before he made this step up.

"It is another triumph for 'The Hampshire Way' - the third player from our group to sign Academy terms with Premiership Clubs."

Picture copyright of Guernsey Sports Commission
In the picure: David Warr (Commissioner at the GSC) and Luke Jones