Esher Rugby

It is with mixed emotions after so much has been achieved in a short space of time that Esher today announces that Mike Brown has been approached and has accepted an exciting, non-competitive with Esher, full-time role at Loughborough University as Director of Rugby.

We are obviously very pleased that our newfound friend of the Esher family and rugby colleague, is progressing his career with this new role, but we are naturally disappointed that we are losing a large part of Mike’s valued time and experience after such a short space of time.

Mike and Esher are in total agreement however, that with the squad we have, and the changes across the Club that have already been made this year, that our One Club is in a very positive position. There is gathering momentum across the Club, with our Senior Squad delivering results already, having developed a great sense of unity in pre-season, increasing numbers at Minis & Juniors, a burgeoning Player Development Pathway, a new Women’s touch mid-week, a new Board and Strategy, Connected Community events delivering new business already and new sponsors on board amongst other progress.

The exciting plans we all have for the future of Esher, to be very clear, have not changed, and your Board and our wider Club community will deliver on this.

Mike will continue in his current contractual role, providing valued advice and direction on an ongoing basis to and through the Club until the end of January 2027. He will also focus on the One Club ethos, with specific focus on working closely with Harvey Scott to continue to structure and embed the Player Development Pathway for Esher and links into the Seniors and advise on how younger years are best placed to feed into this system.

Liam Slatem our Head Coach supported by the rest of the coaching team will make the most of having Mike until January 2027, as they continue the “business as usual”, of progression for our existing Senior Squad. We can see that the entire Coaching team have made a very positive impact with the style, quality and level of rugby being played so vastly improved, already delivering results, entertaining our supporters (new and old), and inspiring our next generation!!

Esher will continue to work with Mike, Liam and the team in the immediate term, to ensure the new management and coaching structure from January 2027 onwards is appropriate for our continued aspirations of promotion, and progression as a Club as a whole.

Mike and the Club are both very keen to maintain a positive relationship beyond the end of his Esher contract. Together, we will explore opportunities for Mike to remain meaningfully connected with Esher and contribute to the club’s continued development, while ensuring that any future involvement works alongside his full-time responsibilities at Loughborough.

We wish Mike very well with his new adventure, we thank him for the tangible difference he has made at the Club in a short space of time and look forward to him delivering even more for the Club over the coming months and thereafter.

Mark Bennett

President Esher Rugby

Mark Bennett said:

“I am personally disappointed to see Mike leave his current role with us so early in our journey together. However, I am also very proud of what we have achieved together as a group and in the knowledge that we are at the start of something very special as a Club both on and off the field.

Mike has made a tangible and positive impact across Esher within the Seniors, as a community and also within the Club in a very short space of time. We wish him all the best in his career progression via the new, wide-ranging, full-time role with Loughborough University, it is a great one for him to grab, and we genuinely wish him every success with it.

Importantly it is business as usual with the Squad, coaches and wider Club as the season progresses and Mike has a vital role to play in that until the end of January 2027.

The Club has great aspirations and ambitions, none of that or the hard work being done across the Club has changed. We trust Mike will still be involved with Esher in the long term at some level and will update you all as appropriate.”

Mike Brown said:

“I’ve really enjoyed my time at Esher Rugby and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have played a part in moving the rugby programme forward. I’ve loved working with everyone across the club, from the players and coaches through to the staff and volunteers. It’s a special club with amazing people, and I’m proud of what we’ve put in place so far.

This has been such a difficult decision because of how much I’ve come to care about the club and everyone in it, especially the players. Ultimately, it’s a decision I believe is right for both my career and my family. Naturally, I remain fully committed to my role until I transition towards my new role at Loughborough University in January 2027 and will do everything I can to leave the club in the best possible position for the rest of this season and beyond.

I look forward to continuing to advise Mark and the Board, Liam and the Coaches in a new, to be defined, strategic role thereafter, so I can maintain my strong links with such a great Club.”