JERSEY Rugby Club’s Academy enter unchartered waters at St Peter on Saturday afternoon when they face Winchester RFC under-16s at 1 pm.

Although the Youth squad performed superbly well in the Hampshire U18 cup last year, going agonisingly close to reaching the final, this will be the first time an Academy side has entered a Hampshire League.

The Winchester match will be the first of seven league fixtures this season, four at home and three away, and will be a severe test for the under-16s who suffered badly from lack of matches last season.

They do, however, have some talented lads, and several will be looking to impress a Hampshire county selector who will be attending.

That, however, won’t be easy.

The squad have only recently been assembled by new coach Graham Howgate and other commitments through the summer have prevented any preparation matches being held.

But the club’s juniors have a proud record of rising to the occasion and the following squad will undoubtedly give of their best in front of the expected large crowd, gathering for Jersey’s first XV’s London South Division II fixture at 3 pm.

Jersey U16s: Tom Falle (capt), Paul Mourant, Alistair Dickson, Chris Pople, William Hunter, Adam Laffoley, Oliver Harwood, Ryan Bisson, Michael Le Bourgeois, Alex Richardson, Andy Amy, Stephen Phelan, James Morin, James Vautier, Mark Livesey, Mathew King, Marc Curtin, Joe Ellyatt, Tom Breeze, Luke Carney, Oliver Gleave and Mathew Molyneaux.

The squad, without the injured Alan Falle, is bolstered by three talented 15-year-olds, Joe Ellyatt, a Hampshire player last season, Tom Breeze and Oliver Gleave.