Blackheath vs Doncaster Knights: Match Preview

The 2026/27 Elior Champ Rugby season might only be in its early stages, but we’ve already been treated to plenty of edge-of-your-seat thrillers. From spectacular comeback wins to games decided in the final seconds, there’s been plenty to savour – and you can expect more of the same as the season enters its third week.

This weekend, newly promoted Blackheath aims to get their season on track with a first win of their season. In their way stands the Doncaster Knights, fresh off the back of a memorable victory in front of home fans at Castle Park.

So which club will prevail? Ahead of this weekend’s match-up on BLAZE, read on as we take a look at how both sides fare entering this game, and some of the storylines to follow.

Last season was one to remember for the oldest rugby club in the world, but so far, Blackheath’s return to the Champ has been a tough one. An opening week defeat to Nottingham was followed in week two by a narrow four-point defeat to Caldy in front of home fans. 

It was a story of what might have been for Blackheath, who held the lead for much of the game. Noah Ferdinand and Iwan Price-Thomas had put Blackheath into an early lead, and the Londoners found themselves up 12-7 at half-time.

Rhys Tudor’s effort brought Caldy close, but Ed Scragg’s 78th-minute score looked to have put the game to bed in Blackheath’s favour. Caldy weren’t going down without a fight, though, and a mauling try from Ollie Hearn stole the victory for the visitors with the last play of the game. Blackheath were left to rue being on the wrong side of the narrow 28-24 defeat.

Meanwhile, Doncaster bounced back emphatically from a lop-sided defeat in week one to beat Hartpury by a score of 29-15. But they had to do it the hard way, with a come-from-behind victory. 

Telusa Veainu got the Knights off to a hot start with a try within two minutes, before Hartpury responded brilliantly courtesy of Jack Cotgreave and Harry Short. James Isaac would pull Doncaster ahead 14-12, but a Harry Bazalgette penalty meant Hartpury held a slender one-point lead at halftime. 

Doncaster scored 15 unanswered points in the second half after Robbie Smith’s yellow card proved costly. Penaia Tagutu scored Doncaster’s fourth and final try after being set up by Veainu to send the Knights fans home happy. 

Blackheath welcome the Knights to The Utilita for their second consecutive home game, keen to get off the mark with their first win of the season. While their record doesn’t show it, they could easily be entering the third week with two wins to their name. Blackheath’s flair and inventiveness were on display in the first half against Caldy, before three rapid penalties proved to be their undoing in the second half. 

‘Being 12 points up in the second period, a little more composure, fewer penalties and we’re over the line’, Blackheath head coach Tom Stradwick commented after week two, adding that the club was on a ‘steep learning curve’ in their first season back in the Champ. 

As for Doncaster, they’ll be aiming to keep up the strong form they displayed in the second half of their game against Hartpury. It was a game in which Telusa Veainu once again demonstrated his star power, and was aided by strong performances by Semesa Rokoduguni and Penaia Tagutu.

The Dean Richards era is now up and running following the disappointing week one loss to Cornish Pirates. But this is a club that has big ambitions to be a contender this season and won’t be content to rest on their laurels. 

‘More than anything, I was pleased with our defence. We worked on it this week after being disappointed with it last week. But there’s still improvement to find,’ Dean Richards said. 

Will Billy Harding’s Blackheath deliver their first win of the season in front of home fans? Or can Telusa Veainu’s Knights continue their strong form and climb up the table? Find out by tuning into BLAZE on Sunday, 4th October from 3:30pm for a 4pm kick off. 

Want more Elior Champ Rugby? BLAZE is the place to be, with live coverage continuing across the next six matches. Catch the action live on BLAZE, free on Freeview 64, Sky 156, Sky Glass/Sky Stream 169, Freesat 161 and Virgin 174, or stream via the free BLAZE app.