Reds secure loan signing of Premiership youngster

Promising teenage wing and Wales u20-capped Alex Morgan has joined Jersey Reds on loan from Premiership side Gloucester.

The 19-year-old, who has featured in Gloucester’s squad for both the Premiership Cup and Shield (A team) competitions, arrived in Jersey on Sunday and is in contention for the Reds’ home game against Nottingham this weekend.

Morgan was born in Cardiff and made his debut for Wales u20 in the Six Nations clash against Scotland in March. He is initially expected to be part of the Reds’ squad until Christmas.

Morgan is the second new face to arrive at Stade Santander International in as many weeks. Last weekend’s match at Newcastle Falcons saw a debut for 23-year-old utility back Brendan Owen.

Born in Johannesburg, Owen played for the Blue Bulls u19s before leaving South Africa in 2016 and playing for two years in Western Australia for the Western Force and Perth Spirit. Last season he played for Venice-based San Donà in the top tier of Italian domestic rugby, the Top 12, and most recently he was back in South Africa playing Currie Cup rugby for Boland Cavaliers.

Biljon is without the services of several backs among his squad, including captain Apakuki Ma’afu, scrum-half Liam Howley and back three players Leroy Van Dam and Tom Williams. Another player who was ruled out of contention following last Saturday’s game against Newcastle was Mark Best, with the centre undergoing surgery on a broken arm sustained during a brief appearance as a replacement at Kingston Park