Blackheath Rugby Club has been dramatically disqualified from the Shepherd Neame Kent Cup after it was discovered The Rectory Field-based side had fielded an ineligible player in the quarter- final tie against Canterbury 11 days ago.

Front row forward Baden Mueews helped Blackheath to a 22-0 win against Canterbury, ironically a team he was playing for at the start of the season.

Mueews then joined Westcombe Park briefly, and it was for them that he played in a first-round Kent Cup tie against Lordswood in late November and caused his subsequent ineligibility for Blackheath.

At the start of December, Mueews switched to Blackheath and played for the second side.

Mueews was then registered with the RFU and made his debut for the first team against Doncaster in the National League 2 match on December 18.

The following day Blackheath were given a bye into the third round of the Kent Cup after their intended opponents, Tonbridge Juddians, withdrew from the competition.

A Blackheath spokesman commenting on the Mueews situation said: "Human error is to blame and we can only apologise to our fans. We had been determined to win the Kent Cup, so this is a big blow."

Blackheath's place in the semi-final will be taken by reinstated Canterbury, who play Maidstone on March 6.

Westcombe Park, who beat a second-string Blackheath 36-0 in last year's Kent Cup Final played ironically at Canterbury's ground will now be red-hot favourites to retain their trophy.

Combe play Old Colfeians in the other semi-final at Horn Park.