They may have secured their first victory in the Zoo Sports Shield two weeks ago, but St Jacques Vikings head into their toughest test thus far this season away to Bournemouth 2nd’s on Saturday.

The hosts are the current table toppers, and with their first XV playing in National League Two, the Vikings are expecting to come up against a side packed with high level experience.

Ray Smart, the Vikings head coach has now returned from his travels which included a trip to Japan for the Rugby World Cup, and after sitting through typhoon Hagibis in Tokyo he will be hoping to see his Vikings side stir up a storm against Bournemouth. He is under no illusions that this will be a stern test for his squad, but he is confident that the Vikings are up for the challenge.

“Bournemouth are top of the league and so far have been the team to beat. We are expecting a tough clash, but one which we are very excited for. There is no pressure on us this week, we know we are the underdogs but we will just go out there and enjoy it.”

He added further: “We still expect our guys to perform, we know our standards and we have to keep improving, as we are not been playing our best rugby yet. But what better chance than against the league leaders.”

The Vikings skipper Leon Gardner is again required by the Raiders, so Darrin Bellingham will again will lead the side out as he did during the win over Sutton & Epsom. He one of several talismanic players for Ray Smarts side, which also welcomes back veteran no 8 James Regnard in the pack.

Nick Merrien is back in the fold for the Vikings, and whilst he undoubtedly harbours ambitions to earn his place back in the Raiders side he has performed very well on each of his three run outs for Smart’s side this season, which will only help his chances. He starts in the back-row alongside Mitch Smith and James Regnard.

Young prop Tom Bray, who scrummaged excellently when he came on against Sutton makes his first start in the front-row this weekend. This will provide an excellent opportunity to test himself against likely a strong pack, and with the likes of fellow front-rows Cally Murdoch and James Mroch still out injured his development is going to be crucial for the Vikings.

Pierre De Garis gets his chance in the scrum-half jersey, with Lucas Barker unavailable this week. The versatile half-back, who recently graduated Cardiff University, has been unavailable for much of the season so far and will be looking to stake his claim for the shirt moving forwards, with a solid performance this weekend.

Alec Bailey also returns to the side, this week at inside centre, whilst Dave Davison joins him in the midfield. Taylor Quate moves to fullback from the centres in the absence of Leon Collenette and Tom Chammings, whilst Mike Agyei-King and Cameron Le Prevost make up the wings.

On the bench the two further two Smith bothers, Jacob and Michael are poised to join the action, with Jacob managing to shake off a shoulder injury which ruled him out of the Sutton victory.

The Vikings will likely be tested to their absolute max this weekend, and they are going to have to produce a massive performance. They have improved every game so far this season, but have they improved enough to topple the league leaders, we will find out this weekend.

Guernsey St Jacques Vikings

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