NL1: Signings, Retentions and Departures 2020-21

<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Whilst the past three months hasn’t seen any rugby being played, and we’re still not sure when the first match of the 2020/21 season will be, the hard work behind the scenes to renew contracts and fill voids left by those players who have moved or retired has continued, and we’re delighted to give you news of next season’s squad.

<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">As you will have read over the recent weeks, we are saying goodbye to some players who are retiring (Burcham, Liebenberg) or moving (Herriott, Poole, Peters, Lamb, Rawstron-Rudd, Hamilton, Ireland, Scott, Seward) and we wish them all well. The great news is that we’re going to be welcoming back the majority of our 2019/20 squad:

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Tom Baldwin, Tom Burns, James Catt, Mark Cooke, Jack Daly, Craig Dowsett, Leo Fielding, Nick Foster, Harry Fry, Freddie Gabbitass, Kariym Irving, Jake Lloyd, Nathan Morris, Freddie Owen, Neale Patrick, Mike Perks, Alex Pickersgill, Ben Ransom, Elliot Simmons, Henry Staff, Tom Stradwick, Jamie Ure, Tom Williams<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">We are also welcoming some new faces to the Blackheath Squad this season, strengthening the 1<span style="-sizing: border-; : relative; font-size: 9.75px; line-height: 0; vertical-align: line; top: -0.5em;">st</span> XV – all are outstanding signings, who bring considerable rugby experience and playing quality, as well as a genuine desire to see Club improving on last season’s final league position. 

<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">With such key retirements at Centre (Markus Burcham) and scrum half (Stef Liebenberg), and the departure of Danny Herriot and josh Peters at key positions, we felt these were crucial areas to focus on, and to bring in players with proven track records. 

<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Stefan North: Tight Head Prop</span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Arrives back at Club from a spell at OEs. ‘Stef’ is well known at Blackheath, having previously played over 30 games in the red and black. It’s fair to say that he relishes the dark arts at scrum time, and will be a great addition to the squad<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Dom McGeekie: 2nd Row/Back Row</span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Again, arrives from OEs. Dom is a graduate of Cardiff Met University and previously played for Championship side London Scottish. An extremely versatile back five player, who is adept at playing in the ‘row’ or out in the wide channels as an attacking back rower<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Ollie Claxton: Scrum Half </span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Another to join Club from OEs, Ollie arrives off the back of a great season and has been a stand out player for OEs during his 100 plus games. Whilst studying at Exeter University he also represented England Students. He’s known as a player with a great turn of pace, and one that can make something out of nothing<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Alex Brown: Back Three</span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">The fourth player to come to us from OEs, Alex is a former Exeter University student where he gained England Students honours. Alex will give us a great number of options as he can cover all positions in the back line (he may argue) apart from 9 and 10<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Matt Meeks: Loose Head Prop </span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Matt has played over 100 National League games for Cambridge. A former back-rower who made the switch to the front row, he remains a mobile, aggressive player<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Chris Bell: Scrum Half</span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Chris joins us from Cambridge University, where he won three Blues and picked up two ‘man of the (Varsity) match’ performances. ‘Belly’ can also play at fly-half and knows Shanners very well<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Lewis Robling: Centre</span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Lewis comes to Blackheath from Bedford Blues via Jersey Reds and Ealing, having made over 100 Championship appearances. Another signing that gives us more flexibility, as he can also play 10 and hence gives us another option as a recognised goal kicker<p style="-sizing: border-; margin: 0px 0px 18px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="-sizing: border-; font-weight: 700;">Luke Peters: Centre</span>

<ul style="-sizing: border-; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: rgb69, 69, 69; font-family: Lato, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><li style="-sizing: border-; line-height: inherit;">Luke arrives from Nottingham, Ealing and Rotherham, having played a number of seasons in the Championship. A physical, hard running centre, who will add depth to an area of great strength at Club, recently vacated by last season’s Captain

"Danny is renowned for his determined and spirited play ..." and his tendency to need the occasional ten-minute break to get his breath back.

"Danny is renowned for his determined and spirited play ..." and his tendency to need the occasional ten-minute break to get his breath back.

Ben Adams 'returns' to Cambridge having been on loan from Coventry.