St Jacques Vikings return to action on Saturday with a Counties One Hampshire clash against Sandown & Shanklin at Footes Lane, part of an exciting triple-header.
The Academy Under-15s kick off the rugby at 11:30, followed by Guernsey Raiders hosting title chasing Dorking in National Two East at 14:00. The Vikings then round off the day, with kick-off at 15:30 on the Garenne Stand pitch.
The fixture sees two island sides go head-to-head, and recent meetings suggest this could be another closely fought encounter. The last two clashes have been decided by a last-minute kick, including the Vikings’ narrow victory in the Isle of Wight earlier this season.
St Jacques come into the match after their scheduled fixture against Portsmouth last weekend was awarded as a walkover win. Their most recent on-field performances have been positive, with a dominant second-half performance against Trojans securing an important victory before they pushed league champions Havant all the way, staying in the contest until the final ten minutes.
Sandown & Shanklin, promoted as Counties Two Hampshire champions last season, have continued to produce strong performances at this level. Sitting firmly in mid-table, they will be looking to reverse their narrow defeat to the Vikings earlier in the season and strengthen their standing in the league.
With both sides competing well in recent weeks, another tight and competitive contest is expected.
Vikings head coach Layton Batiste has made several changes to his squad for this fixture. Leon Gardner returns for the first time since November, adding experience and power to the front row. Gearoid Lee is also back, starting at fullback, where he will provide a counter-attacking option.
Scrum-half Ben Holland returns to the side for the first time in a few months, forming a half-back pairing with captain Tom Veillard.
On the wings, Will Forbes-Lee makes his first appearance of the season, while Kieran Creber continues in outstanding form. Creber has been a constant attacking threat in recent games, with his footwork and finishing ability making a big impact in recent results.
The forward pack remains mostly unchanged, with James Mroch, Gardner, and Pierce de Carteret in the front row. Kieran Williamson partners Jacob Smith in the second row, while Mitchell Smith, Barney Paul, and Chris Croft form the back row.
In midfield, Callum Gladstone and Matt Lomas-Lloyd continue their partnership, while Lee starts at fullback to add another playmaking option.
Among the replacements, Corey Wallis, Jamie Mahy, and Marcus Whitfield will be ready to make an impact from the bench.
With both teams having performed well in recent weeks and a history of close encounters between them, another hard-fought match is on the cards at Footes Lane.