The Vikings will be looking to bounce back after a narrow 32–29 defeat to Gosport & Fareham on the opening day of the season. Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance — particularly from the backs, who looked sharp with ball in hand and created opportunities across the park.

Head Coach Layton Batiste was encouraged by the attacking intent shown last week but knows that greater accuracy will be crucial if the Vikings are to turn performances into results. Missed chances and small lapses at key moments proved costly against Gosport, and the focus this week has been on tightening up execution while maintaining the side’s ambition to play.

Bognor, meanwhile, began their campaign with a hard-fought 24–21 victory away to newly-promoted Millbrook and will be looking to build on that momentum in front of their home supporters.

Batiste has made several changes to the matchday squad. Jacob Smith moves across to tight-head prop, while Angus MacCallum is rewarded with a starting place after an impressive impact from the bench last weekend.

In the back row, Tom Yarwood returns to the side having been a standout performer last season, replacing the unavailable Luke Grigg. Behind the scrum, the halfback pairing of Marcus Whitfield and co-captain Tom Veillard remains unchanged, with Whitfield continuing to settle nicely into the scrum-half role.

There is also a welcome return for Callum Gladstone, who brings his experience to the midfield after missing last week through injury. Will Forbes-Lee, who impressed in the season opener, is unavailable this weekend.

Out wide, Louis Buensoz comes into the side on the wing for his first Vikings appearance since 2021. Having been back on island and training hard, he is rewarded with his chance to impress.

On the bench, another Academy graduate gets his opportunity as Louis Mayor is named among the replacements and is set to make his Vikings debut.

With several fresh faces and a renewed focus on accuracy, the Vikings are determined to turn performance into points and claim their first win of the season.

Kick-off is at 1:30pm and another closely contested match is expected between two sides who shared the spoils in last year’s home-and-away fixtures.

Wallis, Mroch, J Smith, Williamson, MacCallum, M Smith, Yarwood, Croft (cc), Whitfield, Veillard (cc), Buensoz, Lomas-Lloyd, Gladstone, Le Prevost, Lee

Replacements
de Carteret, Hitchins, Mayor