Blackheath upbeat – and now back in business!

BLACKHEATH director of rugby James Shanahan believes Club are building a long-term ‘renaissance’ after securing the National 2 East title at Westcliff yesterday with a 94-17 victory.

England’s oldest open rugby club was hit hard during the pandemic, losing 22 players and suffering relegation for the first time since 2000. But Shanahan believes their approach, to regrow from the ground up this season, with a mix of returnees and graduating colts alongside new faces, will come to the fore in National 1 next season.

The south-east Londoners have won 14 in a row – 12 with a try bonus point – and wrapped up the crown in style with three fixtures remaining.

Former Bedford centre Shanahan, 46, said: “During Covid we lost 22 players and it resulted in us struggling last season. We lost 17 games by one score – small margins but we got relegated.

“All we’ve talked about is a renaissance, a rebirth, and the aim was always to not just get straight back into National One, but return to the level we were at before Covid, being a regular top-five team.

“That’s what we’re doing and hopefully the confidence of being in this league and winning tight games, we can take through to next season.”

Shanahan’s felt Blackheath have had a target on their back after dropping out of the third tier for the first time in 20 years, but after the hiccups of moving to Well Hall before Covid and relegation, he feels the club is bouncing back, and thinks the gap between leagues is closer than others think.

“It’s been a great challenge to bounce straight back, as we know most teams will be the best version of themselves when they face us so we have to step up to that,” he said.

“We’ve met the challenge a majority of times which is pleasing. I didn’t want a hangover from last season and probably because we’re a little more powerful than most of our opposition we’ve won those tight games.

“The top five in this league would be able to be in National One and be okay. The biggest difference is the physicality in the packs – I wouldn’t say there is a real difference in speed or skill, it’s the physicality and the packs.

“That will be the big thing over the off-season, filling a few positions to get more ballast so we can use our power game.”