Vikings thrown to the big 'Zoo' lions

Last season’s Sussex League Division Two champions may have been a tad nervous about jumping into the third tier of the Zoo Sports Shield, but now face a winter at an ever higher level after unexpected changes within the league.

James Mroch, the Vikings player and PR representative, explained why the KGV-based club’s plans and expectations have been thrown into turmoil.

‘We were expecting to enter Division Three, which consisted of 10 teams at step 8, which was two higher than the Sussex League,’ said Mroch.

‘However over the off-season several of the teams from this league have decided to leave and therefore, the shield committee have been forced to scrap Division Three in favour of a very large Division Two, which in total was 15 teams at step 7 which is only two lower than the Raiders will be playing this season.

‘This was an unexpected change for us, as after having raised a near additional £30k to play this season we were now facing an additional 10 fixtures at an un-budgeted further cost of circa £26k plus, and also facing trips to Taunton and Leicester.’

Vikings, who rely heavily on the Raiders reserve strength and Guernsey Academy, have had to act quickly.

‘Understandably we were very shocked at this decision, and as were all of the other teams in the league,’ said Mroch, adding: ‘many of whom said that 28 league games was far too many for second team rugby, even for big clubs such as Richmond, who were the most vocal about this decision to have such a large league and how it could be damaging.

‘Proposals were put forward by the Richmond director of rugby, to split Zoo Division One [where Jersey’s Siam team play] and Two into smaller 10 team leagues and create a 10 team Division Three also. But this was dismissed by the league organisers.

‘It was [then] agreed that teams would negotiate fixtures between themselves as to whether they played them, played them as double-headers or just not play certain teams.

‘Therefore we have worked with all the teams and come up with an 18-game league programme and we have also arranged two friendlies with strong UK teams including Brighton Seconds.’

Among the noted clubs in line to play Vikings this season are Richmond, Sutton & Epsom, Ealing Trailfinders, London Irish Wild Geese, Bracknell, Dorking, Old Albanians, Sevenoaks and Sidcup.

The first game of the season is a home clash with Richmond Normans on 7 September, but Vikings will not be playing either Leicester or Taunton.