From Jersey journeyman to England contender
GARY Graham’s potent mix of determination and “edge” will see him thrive on the England stage, according to Jersey director of rugby Harvey Biljon.
Back rower Graham has been named in England’s squad as a Newcastle Falcons player, where he has excelled since making his Premiership debut in November.
However, it is at Jersey where, on a basic wage, the 25-year-old was rescued from rugby obscurity in 2015 and transformed into an openside force. Biljon told The Rugby
Paper: “From my position it’s great to see Gary have an opportunity and if he gets a chance in the Six Nations I’ve no doubt he’ll take it because he’s got that attitude and determination to succeed and surprise people.
“Gary came to us from Galashiels in Scotland’s lower leagues, where we identified a player who had all the raw materials, and before he joined Newcastle from us last summer I told Dean Richards he had an edge to him that few players have.
Biljon added: “Gary came to us as a No.6 or 8 and we decided we wanted him to be a No.7, which he was hesitant about but embraced.
“He was with Jersey two-and-half-years and from a strength and conditioning point of view he did some great work to get himself in the best position he could. He’s become durable and consistent, aggressive in the tackle and is a great asset at the breakdown.
“We had a plan, mapped it out for him and set some targets, and it’s been great to see him moving up to Newcastle and fulfilling his potential.”
With former Jersey prop Harry Williams (Exeter) joining Graham in the England ranks, Biljon can reflect on a period that has seen a host of ex-island forwards achieve top-flight rugby.
Sam Lockwood (Newcastle), Pierce Phillips and Simon Kerrod (both Worcester), Elvis Taione and James Freeman (both Exeter) and Leinster’s Sean McCarthy all reinvented their careers in the Championship at Jersey before moving on.
Biljon, who previously enjoyed similar success at the Cornish Pirates, explained: “A lot of these guys don’t come through Premiership academies, they’ve come to us from lower league clubs and proved that not all elite pathways are the same.
“We can’t afford to pay our players big wages and they’re paid very modestly, but what we do is go out and find guys who’ve got the raw material and desire, and then it’s up to us to coach and develop them to give them an opportunity.
“It’s a week-by-week grind in the Championship but I believe if you’re a standout player in our league you’ll get opportunities in the Premiership. I just wish more resources would be put into the Championship to help our clubs develop.”