Alongside new signings Joe Wrafter, Michael Cantle and Charlie Wilkinson, Guernsey Rugby Academy products Felix Godet and Phoenix Mahy have been named in the starting XV to face the Hawks.
While Jordan Reynolds is excited by the potential of the youngsters, Guernsey’s director of rugby has also had his hand forced for the opener due to a unique occurrence that has ruled out a couple of high-profile names – Anthony Armstrong’s wedding.
Reynolds joked that he has ‘had a word’ with his star winger’s fiancee about the timing of their nuptials, adding on a more serious note that it will help him assess his squad’s strength in depth.
‘It is what it is, but what it’s also done is it’s made us quickly look a lot more into our stocks,’ said the head coach.
‘Phoenix Mahy’s currently with the Colts, he came away to Sheffield, and he’s been training all pre-season, so it’s giving a great opportunity to a young lad like that.
‘We’ve got Felix as well who’s come up through the academy, he’ll be starting at lock this week.
'He’s off to university, but we get him for a few games at the start of this season.
‘When you have these regular faces, you probably get to a point where you’re picking them for being that familiar. But we get to exercise our needs to select on a wider base, which is fantastic, and it gives these guys opportunity. From what we’ve seen from them, we think they’re going to settle in really well. So it’s good.
‘And we’ve got some new players, they all performed really well up at Sheffield, but the real challenge comes on Saturday. Can we do it against a fierce Henley side?
‘I’m excited to see how it all balances out.’
Raiders won their sole pre-season match away to Sheffield Tigers 38-21 a fortnight ago and they will take confidence from that performance, but Reynolds, who is now entering his 20th season with Guernsey, acknowledged that a league opener against the Hawks will be a step up in intensity.
‘Funny enough, we always seem to play Henley at the start of the season at their place.
‘They have done some structural changes with their coaching staff, but habits are habits and the way they behave on the park will be evident on Saturday.
‘They’re probably one of the more well-balanced sides in the league. We had a really fantastic win against them here last year, but it’s going to take a huge effort from our guys.
‘But like I said we know a fair bit about Henley, we know what they’re about. Their set piece is a big part of their game and if we can try and mess that up slightly, we might give ourselves a really good chance on Saturday.’
St Jacques Vikings, meanwhile, are at home to Gosport & Fareham tomorrow at 2pm.
Raiders team
Joe Wrafter, Michael Cantle, Martinas Dromantas, Charlie Wilkinson, Felix Godet, Matt Creber, Dom Rice, Josh Poullet, Dale Rutledge, Charlie Simmonds, Ethan Smith, Niall McGann, Ciaran McGann, Phoenix Mahy, Callum Roberts. Replacements: Phil Le Noury, Tom Bray, Liam Welch, Brad Webb, Charlie Davies.
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