South London rugby club Blackheath, the oldest open rugby club in the world, is already over halfway through its first season at its new venue in Eltham and are making the most of their new home. After 133 years at the Rectory Field the Club has moved its 1st team, which plays in National League One – the rugby equivalent of footballs 1st Division – to Well Hall in Eltham, although The Club still uses the historic Rectory Field for amateur men’s, women’s and junior rugby, Having worked hard to bring the site up to the standards required for National League rugby the 1st team are enjoying their new facility and the Club have what’s likely to be their biggest game of the season to date coming up on Saturday when South London rivals Rosslyn Park visit Well Hall.

Now thought, the Club is starting to run other exciting, off the pitch, activities and events including an evening with Club member and three time Olympic Medal Winner Steve Backley, who will be telling his stories of the Olympics and more, as well as answering questions at Well Hall on Thursday 23rd March, from 7pm. It is open to non-members and details of the evening are available on Blackheath’s website.

Russell Ticehurst, Chairman of Blackheath, commented that this was part of the Club’s drive to reach out to a new, wider audience. ‘The biggest of these events in their calendar is Ladies Day on Saturday 22nd April, the same as the Club are at home to Plymouth Albion. Blackheath have held this event in previous seasons to great success, providing a fantastic day out and raising valuable funds for South East London Breast Cancer Trust.’ A three-course Ladies Lunch will be served by the players before watching the game in the reserved seating areas in the stand. Lucky Ladies can purchase their waiter at auction to look after them for the duration of the day and into the evening. The wider Ladies Day general entrance is at 2 pm where players will continue to serve the guests in the reserved areas. Tickets for the lunch cost £45 and general entrance £30.

More details of both events are on the Blackheath website www.blackheathrugby.co.uk and tickets can be obtained via Lisa Maresca-Harmer on lisa.mh@blackheathrugby.co.uk or call on 07747 795 768.

With the Steve Backley evening to raise awareness of the Club, and Ladies Day to raise money for charity, the Club are looking to make full use of their new home, which has excellent facilities and good transport links for the supporters, being only a few minutes walk from Eltham station and just off of the A2 and South Circular roads.

And by running these events, in combination with good performances on the pitch, a thriving youth section, as well as social women’s teams, Blackheath are aiming to reach out to a new audience.

‘We are, and always will be, part of the Community’ continued Ticehurst, ‘Which is why the social and youth rugby are so important to us, and why we are doing things like the Ladies Day and other community activities such as our work with Demelza Hospice in Eltham and plans for C-R-Y, Cardiac Risk in the Young'.

Blackheath’s match against Rosslyn Park on Saturday is a 3.00 pm kick-off at Well Hall in Kidbrooke Lane, admission is £12 and accompanied juniors are admitted free of charge.