SIAM DAY NEARLY HERE

IT HAS been a long time coming - 30 months - but Siam is back.

Three almost back-to-back clashes across the club training pitch and the pristine surface in front of the Garenne Stand, will make for a great day of rugby.

The two clubs have worked hard for this to happen and it should be a day to savour.
From our point of view, there is added excitement not only in the stand and touchline, but on the pitch.

In terms of the ladies game (KO 1pm) coach Steve Evans has named 14 debutants in his match-day 22. That is just one more than the men who have eight first-timers in the starting XV confirmed by director of rugby Jordan Reynolds at the brilliant, occasionally touching, shirt presentation evening at the club on Wednesday night. ‘With it being the Centenary Siam Cup, we knew there was a huge amount of importance in connecting with our history and past Siam players. We feel this game is not just about our squad, but us as a whole community and that will be our motivation on Saturday’ said the director of rugby.

The sight of 22 former Siam men handing over shirts to the 2021 group was a wonderful touch to both the competition but the history of it. Of course this is the Centenary match and befitting the fact that a Guernseyman was mostly responsible for the inauguration, Guernsey must surely win.
Sport is not as simple as that though and it promises to be another close encounter under the lights.

Steve Evans has delayed naming his starting XV but the girls have been significantly lifted by that win at Heathfield and Waldron last weekend. They go for nine wins in a row.

Raiders XV (* denotes new cap)
Darrin Bellingham, Tom Ceillam, Jacob Pinkney *, Lewis Hillier (capt.), Brad Webb*, Hugo Culverhouse *, Dom Rice, Doug Horrocks; Charlie Simmonds *, Owen Thomas, Callum Roberts *, Ethan Smith *, Matt Armstrong *, Anthony Armstrong, Charlie Davies *.
Replacements: Charlie Currie *, Sam Steventon, Dan Morgan *, James Burger *, Dale Rutledge, Dan Rice *, Joe Andresen *.