He's the older half of the best brother-sister sibling in the Guernsey Rugby Club, but Nick Merrien has no need to look after little sis Rachel and, anyway, as a first XV regular in the pack at National 3 level he has plenty on his hand just looking after himself.

It is incredible to think that it is now seven years since Nick played his debut 1st XV game which was the Anthony Nolan Memorial Trust fund raising clash in Jersey.

In the intervening years he has had to work hard to nail down a regular starting slot, but aged 25 he can finally claim to have done that.

It was as a 13-year-old at La Mare de Carteret he was introduced to rugby by 'Mr Jones who used to play second team rugby here for a while'.

Before that badminton was his main game, but by the time he left school it was oval balls rather than shuttlecocks on his mind.

'The first two years (after debut) I was there or thereabouts in the first team. I went away often but it was quite a struggle to become a first team regular.'

But with great advice from the likes of Cam Craine, 'Barts' and Jordy he has forced himself into a regular starting berth.

Nick says he has seen a big change in the club in recent times and for the better.

'It's a lot different to when I first started.

'The environment was a lot more difficult than it is now and it was quite hard to get the respect of the older players.

'We now have a better system, the youngsters get integrated and the transition into the first team is more streamlined.

'There used to be a big divide between the first and seconds, but that is a lot different now.'

As for career highs and low points, he points to the broken cheekbone, eye socket and jaw as the low.

'I was out for three months,' he says.

The highs?

'Definitely those back to back promotions and playing the Siam Cup.'