Matt Armstrong has re-signed for Guernsey following his stint at a higher level with Blackheath.
The prospect of him joining older brother Anthony, who finished as the top try-scorer in the division last season, in the Raiders team once more is one that excites director of rugby Jordan Reynolds.
‘Matt has had some really good seasons in National One with Blackheath and he was a helluva good player for us before that, so to have him back, and the fact that he can cover the back three and the centres for us, is great,’ Reynolds said.
The head coach also reported that new signings Michael Cantle and Charlie Wilkinson have impressed in training so far.
Cantle is a hooker who has arrived from the University of Nottingham, while Wilkinson, who was at Nottingham Trent University and also involved with Championship club Nottingham, can play in either the second or back row.
‘They have settled in really well, which is fantastic,’ Reynolds said.
‘There is always that period of time with new signings to see how their personalities as well as their abilities gel with the group, but Michael and Charlie have been great. They are nice, easy guys to get along with and good players as well.’
Raiders ramp up their preparations for the new season tomorrow as they travel to play Sheffield Tigers in a pre-season friendly.
Their hosts are a National Two North outfit and will provide Guernsey with a much-needed outing before beginning their league campaign away to Henley on Saturday 6 September.
‘It has been a bit of a slow start to pre-season in terms of a third of our squad being out with injuries, but we are expecting a few back by mid-to-late September,’ said Reynolds.
‘We are taking a bit of a mixed squad to Sheffield –we have got some youth players in there as well as some familiar, established names.
‘Sheffield Tigers will be really strong across the park and at the moment it is a bit up in the air as to where we are.
‘The squad is developing week in, week out, but you never know where you are until you are in a game.’
Raiders’ first home game of the new season comes against Dorking on Saturday 13 September.
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