For the third time in three seasons, the Blue & Gold go into a new rugby campaign in unfamiliar surroundings following back-to-back-to-back promotions.

They begin their first Regional Two South East campaign this Saturday with a daunting trip to last year’s runners-up, Brighton Blues.

It’s the toughest possible start for Gavin Lach’s men, with three of their first four games on the road. After the unprecedented success of the last three seasons, OEs’ long-serving Director of Rugby has stressed the importance of managing expectations this time round.

“It’s no secret we’ve enjoyed three hugely successful seasons,” he said. “But every club eventually reaches a ceiling and we are no different. This season could well be our ceiling - who knows?
"It will certainly be our most challenging season by a country mile because there are quality sides in Regional Two who have been at this level for a sustained period. We’ve got to raise our own standards to reach their level.”

Lach is quick to shoot down any talk of a fourth straight promotion. “This is not me being overly cautious, I’m just realistic,” he admitted. “This season is all about consolidation, nothing else. If we can secure a top half finish, that would be a successful campaign.
“We have a young side, but that can be a good thing because the youngsters play with no fear and have no baggage attached.”
He added: “Our first challenge is to demonstrate we can compete and stay at this level, that’s all I’m interested in. Then let’s see where we are at Christmas.”

The key to OEs’ success during the past three seasons has been continuity on the field and a commitment to blooding a raft of young talent from their outstanding youth section.

The club only used 40 players in the first team last term, 30 of whom had progressed through the juniors.

This season will be no different. Nine graduates from last season’s Academy have been successfully integrated into the two senior squads during the summer while the only other new faces in the 1st XV set-up are two former OEs - ex-Harlequins junior prop Piero Noah who returns to the club after a stint with Esher in the National Leagues, and talented three-quarter Ben Day.

“The average age in the squad is around 24,” Lach said. “but they’ve already played a lot of senior rugby. A lot of the boys have come back to the club in the past two or three years to play with their mates they went to the College with or played with in the juniors. It’s created a really strong team spirit and work ethic. It’s exciting to work with a group like this and see how far we can go."

With the Extra 1st XV also playing at a higher level this season after they were promoted to Kent Counties 4 and with a number of retirements, unavailabilities and long term injuries, the club’s playing resources will be stretched to the limit, particularly in the early weeks of the season.

“The higher up the league pyramid you go, the greater the strain on playing resources,” Lach said. “It’s a fact of rugby life, which is why the Academy is so important for the long term health of the club.”

There’s a change in the leadership groups as well this season. Prop Richie Trew has completed his remarkable three-year tenure as 1st XV captain and goes down as the most successful leader in the club’s 115-year history, losing only two of 69 games and guiding the Blue and Gold to three successive league and cup doubles, including two national cup final appearances at Twickenham.
He takes up a new role as Old Elthamians Club Captain, while last year’s vice captain Dillon Robertson takes over as 1st XV skipper. Reis Norman is the new vice captain.

In the Extra 1st XV, the club’s longest serving player Luke Cooper has been appointed captain with Lucius Raggett his vice captain.

Brighton v Old Elthamians kicks off at 3pm this Saturday (Sept 26).
Ground address: Waterhall Road, Brighton, BN1 8YR

The Extra 1st XV v Dartfordians 2nds is being played at Dartfordians RFC, Bourne Road DA5 1LW (kick-off 3pm).