St Jacques Vikings finally get their 40th anniversary season underway in front of their home supporters this Saturday, after playing five consecutive away matches so far this season.

The black-and-yellows have come through all five of those tests unbeaten, and proudly sit top of the Sussex Division Two league table heading into the weekend, and have been playing some really good rugby of late. They welcome Shoreham to the KGV for a lunchtime kick-off, where they will be hoping to extend their unbeaten start to the season to six matches.

Ray Smart and his coaching team will be really pleased with the progression the Vikings have made already this season, after starting with a far from excellent performance against Newick on the opening game of the season, which they eventually won 7-0. With each match that has passed since then, the new players they have introduced this season have settled in more and are combining with the rest of the squad to great effect.

Three of those new players have quickly become important players for the Vikings, with fly-half Matt Lomas, centre Lucas Barker and prop Barnaby Paul all excelling in the early stage of the season. They will be looking forward to making their home debut’s this weekend, and along with the more established Vikings squad will hope to produce a fine performance this weekend.

Shoreham were one of the strongest sides in the league last season and although this season they have struggled a little more winning only two of their six games, the Vikings will be in no doubt they will need to produce a strong performance to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Ray Smart has named only three changes to the side that defeated Worthing Azurians last week, however this game will be the last game for of two of the Vikings most impressive young performers, flanker Tom Rihoy and scrum-half Ben Holland. Both are leaving the island with Rihoy heading to Austria to complete a ski season before heading to university next year, and Holland is moving to New Zealand for up to six months as he joins a full-time rugby academy. These are two players who will be missed by the black-and-yellows however several more young colts are due to join up with the Vikings squad shortly to take their places.

In the starting side Barnaby Paul again starts at loose-head prop, with skipper Leon Gardner and Ashplant making up the front-row. Brad Webb and Mitch Smith continue in the second row, whilst the back-row is made up of Guernsey Rugby Academy product Chris Croft who is improving with every game he plays for the Vikings, Tom Rihoy and the vastly experienced James Regnard at number 8.

Ben Holland continues his partnership with Matt Lomas for one last time in the halfbacks, whilst Lucas Barker and Connor Sullivan link up for the first time in the centres. The back three of Cam le Prevost, Joe Le Roux & Leon Collenette continues from last week.

On the bench James Mroch is joined by fellow forwards Tom Bray, Tor Ritchie-Bandy and Mark Johnson. Tom Bray who is a current Academy Colt, is in line to make his Vikings debut after training for several months, whilst Mark Johnson excelled in his only performance so far this season against St Francis and will offer massive impact when unleashed.

Cashel Cahill, Tom Chammings & Phil Le Noury all provide excellent options in for the back replacements, for what makes up a very useful squad for the Vikings

Kick off is 1.30 at the KGV tomorrow, with the bar open from 11.00am.

Finally we wish the best of luck to Guernsey Raiders and Guernsey Ladies this weekend, here's hoping to three Guernsey wins!

Team
B Paul
L Gardner (c)
N Ashplant
M Smith
B Webb
C Croft
T Rihoy
J Regnard
B Holland
M Lomas
J Le Roux
L Barker
C Sullivan
C Le Prevost
L Collenette

J Mroch
T Richie-Bandy
T Bray
M Johnson
C Cahill
P Le Noury
T Chammings