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As we look ahead to the coming 2026/7 season, the Blackheath Men’s Section are making some changes.
Coaching
Andrew Lock has had a remarkable run over the last three years. He has recovered from a serious leg break and returned to play rugby. He’s been awarded a PhD. And he has been Head Coach for the section.
Lockie has spent an enormous amount of time and energy in that time, being a key figure in the renaissance of the section. As coach he has set a playing style that suits us well, and has raised the bar in terms of the standards expected of a Blackheath social team. He also played a rescue coaching role for the women’s section in the second half of the 2025/6 season.
He’s also just a good bloke on and off the pitch.
Lockie has decided to step down as Head Coach, to spend more time on the business he started in the same period. Don’t think he’s disappearing though – Lockie intends to terrorise oppositions all over Kent for years to come.
Lockie in motion – truly one of the unsung wonders of the natural world
The section will be served by Co-Head Coaches in the coming season, with Zac Bainbridge and Kai Roper-Blackman taking the lead in the section.
Co-head Coach Zac will continue to slide through defences this season as a player
The coaching group is rounded out by Conor Mitchell and Sam Sims.
Captain
Kai has served as section Captain for the last four seasons. This was the easiest decision for any selector to make – Kai has an astute rugby mind, and is always the best player on the pitch. Every player has some version of a story that ends “….and then Kai ran through four defenders to score”.
Kai making it look easy…
Kai has always given his all for his teammates, in the standard he expects of himself and others. He has the ability to lift a team, and have us believe we are capable of more than we thought.
More than this, Kai is a quiet and thoughtful leader off the pitch. Not one for a big speech, Kai leads by developing relationships with his players, and helping young guys in their growth.
While stepping back as Captain, Kai has stepped into the Co-Head Coach role, and will continue to play.
In his place, the section will be served by a Captain and Vice Captain.
Conor Mitchell is a club man to his bones. Starting his playing career in the juniors, Conor has played in every age group and team he can, including the first team. He is a few seasons short of running out for the vets, doing so will be a remarkable achievement that hasn’t been matched in quite some time.
Conor’s knee accounts for 40% of the sections physio budget
In addition to playing, he is Assistant Coach for the section, and Head Coach for the Colts. He is such a club man that when he’s dead we will have to bury him under the clubhouse-end posts of Pitch 1. This will annoy Frank because Conor’s enormous head will create a sizable hillock in the pitch.
Conor is a massively strong leader on the pitch, and sets a bar for the culture of the section off it.
The section is lucky to have him, and we look forward to him leading the boys on and off the pitch this season as Captain.
Nathan Brindle is another Blackheath man through and through. He also began his playing days in the minis, and made his men’s debut four seasons ago.
Since that time Nathan has developed into a force to be reckoned with. He is a skilful and elusive flyhalf, managing players much older than him. Nathan has also overcome a significant genetic disadvantage in doing so.
Definitely not the source of Nathan’s talent…
He is a deep thinker on the game, and has evolved the backlines of the section as our player group grows and develops.
While returning from injury this season, Nathan is and will continue to be a leader for the section on and off the pitch as Vice Captain.
Nathan is a significant points scorer for the section.
The section and the club are looking forward to a massive season in 2026/7, with our new leaders at the helm!
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