Guernsey Raiders and Jersey RFC will put historic rivalries aside and join forces to take on Sweden.

Jersey and Guernsey have been competing against each other for rugby's second oldest trophy, the Siam Cup, since 1920.

Just two weeks after the 2025 contest, the two sides will unite to take on Sweden's national side.

The Channel Islands Rugby Team's first match will be played at Footes Lane on 17 May, with a 7:30pm kick-off.

Guernsey Rugby Club's Director Jordan Reynolds says the men are willing to put local rivalries aside to play an international team.

"A lot of people say that you can’t combine the two islands to play sports because there’s too much rivalry, but that’s just absurd.

"You know we’ve had wars together, I’m sure we've fought side-by-side, so this is no different to that."

The new Channel Islands Rugby Team logo, combing the green of Guernsey with the red of Jersey.

Gary Haycock-West, Chair of the Guernsey Raiders, says the CI team plans to play Sweden annually and has hinted at an expansion in the future.

"People might think of Sweden as a big rugby nation, but they are not.  When you break it down, their players play in similar leagues to us.

"So I think it really will be a good game of rugby to watch.

"We’ve already got another nation that’s interested (in playing us). They are a bigger rugby club, and I can’t say any more yet.

"Hopefully, we get on the annual radar of people to come and visit our lovely island and celebrate rugby."

The Channel Islands Rugby Team's first match will be played at Guernsey's Footes Lane on 17 May, with a 7:30pm kick-off.

Mr Haycock-West hopes the Jersey-Guernsey collaboration will have a domino effect.

"Maybe some other clubs, be it netball or football, can start to consider this model and work together with Jersey to go and play more internationally - and create a collaboration between the islands.

"It doesn’t necessarily work at a political level, -we have seen that with the recent negotiations with the ferries - but if we can get it right at a sporting level, maybe it sets an example."

Tom Innes from JRFC says it will be interesting to see how an established international side will match up against the island's select team.

"Both the Jersey and Guernsey teams are well-established in the English League structure and they know where they match up compared with other clubs, but on an international stage we really don’t know where we would figure.

"I think it is a really exciting opportunity for both sides to collaborate. I know it gets a mixed reaction in other areas, like politics, but we would like to think that in a sporting arena we can combine really well, and red and green will go well together."

Vice Chair of the Guernsey Raiders Chris Gnapp, Chair of the Guernsey Raiders Gary Haycock-West, and Director of Rugby Jordan Reynolds.