Recent Form: Esher’s return to the third tier did not go to plan last Saturday, going down 65-24 at Sedgley Park despite having led 24-20 early in the second half.

They began pre-season with a 45-26 success at National Two East side Canterbury, before falling to a 22-12 reverse at Exeter University.

The Eees won National Two East with two weeks to spare last season, racking up 22 victories in their 26 games - including their last 12 at home - and never being beaten by more than seven points.

Players to Watch:

Jacob Morris – Having gone to Exeter University from Whitgift School, the loose-head prop went onto play for both Exeter Chiefs and Cornish Pirates before joining the Eees in the summer.

Sam Morley – Talismanic fly-half was named National One Player of the Year by both the NLR website and The Rugby Paper despite relegation in 2022/23, racking up a league-high 259 points.

Having previously been with Exeter Chiefs and Plymouth Albion, Morley joined Esher during Covid, going onto lead them to the National Two South title where he was again named Player of the Year, on that occasion scoring 310.

Missed last week’s trip to Sedgley Park, where former Rosslyn Park man Owen Waters stepped in.

James Botterill – Prolific wing was top try-scorer in all of the National Leagues last term, racking up an astonishing 36 in just 21 appearances, including one four-timer, three hat-tricks and seven doubles.

The only game he did not score in was home to Dorking, while Botterill featured five times in National One the season before, crossing three times having joined from Exeter University.

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