If you did not already know it is Junior Siam day with 300-plus Jersey youngsters, as well as their many parents and coaches, boating over for the long-awaited resumption of this classic day of rugby.

The pick of those games traditionally is the Colts U18s clash which kicks off on the main pitch at 12.45.

The U15s also get to play in front of the Garenne Stand at 11.30 while, all day from 11.30, dotted around the old club pitch and the pitches across the road at Memorial Field, will be many more age-group encounters. Good luck to all involved.

As for Raiders, they will be seeking to avenge a narrow loss to Canterbury earlier in the season, and get back to winning ways with the main Siam on the horizon.

The big news is the fantastic Tom Ceillam feat of chalking up 300 games all before his 32nd birthday and nobody will be clapping harder than the head coach when the hooker is rewarded by the club for his 300th Raiders appearance.

‘From my point of view he has been the catalyst of what we have built the club around,’ said Jordan Reynolds of his long-serving hooker.

‘The one thing with Tom is that he will put work ethic over any given natural talent. Any club coach would love a player like that.

‘And to reach 300 is a remarkable achievement.’
After shipping over 60 points at Bury St Edmunds last weekend Reynolds has again made big changes with some first-choices returning.

‘We were not happy with the performance at BSE, you don’t want to ship 66 points to anyone.

‘But we had made wholesale changes and we still managed to score four tries which we didn’t manage to do when we played Bury at home.’

After a welcome break Doug Horrocks, Dom Rice, and Oscar Baird return to the pack with Owen Thomas, Ciaran McGann, Callum Roberts and Joe Andresen rejoining the back line.

It is a strong team and Reynolds is happy to see the injury list shrinking.

From arguably his first choice match-day 20, only skipper Lewis Hillier, Hugo Culverhouse, Matt Thomas and Charlie Currie remain on the sidelines.

After the final whistle goes on the men’s game the day is completed by the ladies clash and a chance for Steve Evans’ side to test themselves again against the champions Canterbury.

Team
Sam Steventon, Tom Ceillam, Jacob Pinkney, Oscar Baird, Brad Webb, Liam Welch, Dom Rice, Doug Horrocks; Charlie Simmonds, Owen Thomas, Callum Roberts, Charlie Davies, Ciaran McGann, Anthony Armstrong, Joe Andresen.
Replacements: Dan Morgan, Tom Bray, James Burger, Lucas Barker, Luke Sayer.