It is fair to say that Weybridge Vandals rise to Step Six in the rugby pyramid has been a slow burn.

It took three near misses in four seasons post-Covid before finally securing promotion from Counties One Surrey/Sussex last term.

Decisive heart-breaking defeats to Petersfield in 2022 and Twickenham in 2025 were particularly bitter pills to swallow along the way.

Head coach George Pickersgill’s men will again lock horns with those two teams over the course of the next month looking to gain some semblance of revenge as they aim to surge up the Regional Two South Central table.

Vandals have made a solid start to the campaign with wins over Guildford and Winchester, but three straight defeats have put the skids under their progress in recent weeks.

In it together: Head coach George Pickersgill leads the post-match huddle after defeat to Wimborne last month

Nevertheless an unshakable team spirit and never say die attitude – demonstrated most notably against league leaders Wimborne and Havant - has remained the bedrock of this season as the squad has battled an unprecedented number of injuries.

And Pickersgill believes the sense of belonging his players enjoy on Desborough Island is the most powerful ingredient that could yet spur his young squad – average age 25 – on to greater heights.

“I feel incredibly privileged to coach the group of players we’ve got at Vandals,” he said ahead of this week’s trip to Twickenham.

“We’re a young squad, with an average age of around 25, but within that we’ve also got four or five players who have made over 100 appearances for the club.

“That’s a really exciting mix of youth and experience, and I think it gives us a fantastic foundation to build on."

He added: “What excites me most isn’t just the talent we’ve got, it’s how much these boys genuinely love the club.

“They’re a really close group, and there’s a real sense of belonging. I think half of them have got Vandals tattoos somewhere on their bodies now, which probably tells you everything you need to know.

“There’s a deep connection between the players, the club and the supporters, and I think that’s something really special.

“The boys are genuinely invested in what we’re trying to achieve, not just as a team, but as a rugby club. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for much more than that.

“When you’ve got a group with that much potential, who genuinely care about each other and the badge they’re playing for, it’s an incredibly exciting thing to be part of.”

Shining light: Hooker Cameron Edgar, who scored six tries in the win over Winchester, is an example of the youthful exuberance on show in Vandals' ranks

Much like the club itself - now boasting brand new £250,000 MUGA courts on its grounds - the players have evolved into a unit that is generally considered to be punching above its previously perceived weight, both physically and metaphorically.

Under the leadership of former Director of Rugby Damian Porter and then Pickersgill, the attacking brand of rugby on show is now regularly bringing supporters to Brownacres in their hundreds.

That is largely down to the ambition to move the ball quickly, but Pickersgill believes it is also down to people wanting to be part of something more than just a rugby club.

“I’ve said this on multiple occasions now, but there’s something really special about this club,” added Pickersgill.

“We’ve got players who’ve played at a very high level, and coaches like George Edgson, who have come in and completely immersed themselves in the culture of the place.

“That says a lot about what we’ve got here.

Injury problems: Mike Mason, on the charge against Havant, is one of 10 players to have been used in the back row this term

“From the president right through to the players, the bar staff and Kate, our bar manager, everyone genuinely loves this club.

“There’s a real sense of pride and belonging, and I think that’s contagious. When people come down on a Saturday, they can feel that, and they want to be part of it.

“Of course, the rugby helps as well. We’re playing some fantastic stuff at times, and hopefully it’s an exciting brand of rugby people want to come and watch.

“The success we had last season has certainly carried some momentum into this year, and I think we’re starting to see that reflected in the numbers coming through the gates.”

A growing social media following, thanks to the work of Jack Seymour, and a stronger online presence, means the first team’s exploits are reaching a wider audience beyond Elmbridge.

In time, it is hoped that will only build momentum.

“Ultimately, we want to show not just Surrey, but the rest of the country, how special Weybridge Vandals is,” Pickersgill adds.

“We’ve got a fantastic rugby club here, with brilliant people behind it, and I think the more people who get to experience that, the stronger we’ll become.”

Band of brothers: The collective spirit at Vandals will be key to success in the run up to Christmas