Blackheath Bandits

For a trip down memory lane, here are two very old pics of couple of Club stalwarts from ‘back in the day’ who will again be pulling on a Club shirt and lacing up their boots for another season come September.
(Thank you for the photos).

Be part of something special.
Be part of the oldest open rugby club in the world.

We are the social / amateur teams of Blackheath (3rd & 4th XVs and Vets) and after three successful seasons of league wins we are working our way back up the leagues, and we are looking for new players to join our successful and growing squad.

As well as running three competitive teams of our own (3rd XV league winners, promoted to Counties 4; 4th XV runners up Kent Met A; Vets Kent Shield winners) we are a pathway to the higher Club teams. The 1st XV has been promoted and will be playing Champ rugby next season.

Our rugby is both social and competitive – we train and play to win & be successful but we also pride ourselves on being open and inclusive, welcoming everyone regardless of their ability or experience. Outside of our league games we, when the schedules allow, seek out games where possible that really test us. In the past year we’ve played England Deaf Rugby, the touring Gentlemen of Aspen and our now traditional fixture against Moosehead RFC (the London Fire Brigade).

We are a tight knit group outside the actual rugby, going beyond the usual rugby socials, and end of season tours that have become the stuff of legend.

And we offer:
• Discounted membership for young adults (18-22)
• Excellent coaching and opportunities to progress to higher teams
• Pitchside physio support
• Veo recording of games for analysis
• Access to 1st XV home games (when we are not playing ourselves of course)

Whether you’re moving to London looking for a club, are an experienced player looking for new challenges and opportunities, or are new to the game and want to learn, there’s a place for you at Blackheath.

Our pre season starts on 1st July but until then we play touch rugby on Wednesday nights.

For more information or details of how to get involved drop us a DM or email [email protected]

The season is over, but it’s never really over for now it’s time for Sevens, and an intrepid band of Club Men have returned to the scene of the historic Club win and 1st XV promotion just a week ago to take part in the Summer Social Sevens.

The sun is shining and the weather is good. Rugby is happening. What more could we want? Your Club squad is:

TOMMASO SIMPKINS
PETE RYALL
ALAN ONYANGO
JUVE IRAGABA
CHARLIE SHAW
ALEX OMEYER
JONNY MOORE
RYAN COOPER
EUAN MCLEOD
BILLY COKER
JO CONNON
KAI ROPER-BLACKMAN
TIM CETIN

And there’s the final whistle. The 2025/26 season is done and what a cracker it’s been, from that opening game against the touring Gentlemen of Aspen through to our own tour to San Sebastián, with some trophies won on the way.

Read the season review on the website
https://blackheathrugby.co.uk/and-theres-the-whistle/
(Link also in our bio)

Kent End of Season Awards

Club was well represented at the Kent Awards last night where the Men’s Section picked up three awards:
Counties 5 winners for the 3rd XV
Kent Met A runners up for the 4th XV
Shield winners for the Vets

There was also recognition of the 1st XVs second place finish in the league and a plethora of well wishes from other Kent clubs for the promotion play off tomorrow.

To pick up three awards was a considerable success in a season when we knew expanding to two league teams was a step into the unknown. As you can tell from the photos, the boys were somewhat jubilant!

For many of us the final award given out on the night is the most important award we can give. It goes to the person who has delivered for the team, the section and The Club in ways that are hard to quantify but we all know what they are. It’s more than just playing. It’s about being the type of person that contributes to the bigger picture whether it be Coaching, enhancing the culture or being present for their teammates.

Whilst there were many people under consideration this year, from Wylie for leadership or those players who have been heavily involved in Coaching age group Rugby this season but there was only one person who could really command the title of Club man of the year this season:

He has coached the Bandits and then the whole section as we grew for four years. He’s been captain in the past and his contribution on and off the field to the wider squad has been immense for years. To top it all off he took on leading the Coaching, supported by others in the squad, of our women’s section for half the season.

Congratulations Big Andy Lock - Club Man of the Year 2025/26 - none more deserved than you.

The Players choice for Forward of the Year had some honourable mentions, including Pete and Rueben but the winner was a man who joined the squad this season but is not new to the Club as he played all his Junior rugby here so it was great when he ‘came home’.

Congratulations Tom Bullen

(And thank you Bill for sponsoring him)

The Players choices -aka “who do your mates rate?”

When it came to the Players vote for Back of the Year there was one runaway winner, brought about by his massive carries and sheer number of try’s scored. Well done (French) Alex Omeyer!

The coaches choice for forward of the year was on the surface a tough choice as there were so many stand out players across the season, including Pete, Dylan, Alex and Neil, but when the coaches conversations started there was one man who stood out for the enthusiasm and efficiency he went about his work, whichever team he was assigned to, and his commitment to the group & the culture of the squad.

Congratulations Oli ‘Smudge’ Smith

(And thank you to Smart Associates for sponsoring Oli).