Mike Schmid has paid tribute to the ‘special players’ who have swept Esher to National One title glory.

Esher secured a place in the Championship next season with a 31-12 victory over Blaydon last Saturday.

A 16th successive win ensured they won promotion with five matches still to play after nearest rivals London Scottish crashed to a fourth defeat in a row at Tynedale.

It is also the perfect answer to RFU chiefs, whose astonishing decision changes the rules midway through last season so that five teams would be relegated instead of two resulted in Esher dropping into National One.

Director of rugby Schmid is still bitter about the decision but has been delighted with the response of his team, who have lost just one of 25 league games in a dominant campaign.

Schmid, handed a huge vote of confidence in the shape of a two-year contract last summer, said: “We have a special group of players here who have worked tremendously hard and have now got their reward.

“I was very disappointed with what happened last season because to change the rules midway through the season, ethically, didn’t make any sense.

“Collectively, we had a point to prove to right a few wrongs and I am glad we have been able to do that.

“I have had tremendous support from the club, which enabled me to keep the core of players from last season and we have built a close-knit group.

“We have a fantastic bunch of people on and off the pitch who have worked very hard in training and in matches.

“I thought we had the players to challenge for the title but knew it would be tough because sides such as London Scottish and Cambridge had spent more on their squads.

“But we knew the style of play we aspired to and all the 40 or so players who have come into the side have responded brilliantly with their work ethic and by playing for each other.

“It has been a tough season and it has only been in the past few weeks that Scottish have faded away.”

Schmid also praised the club hierarchy, whose ambition has now established Esher as one of the top 24 teams in England yet maintained the core and traditions of a community rugby club.

Schmid, a former Canada international who played for and later coached Rotherham, said: “One of the reasons I came to Esher was because of the off-field people.

“I had worked with a one-owner club and that can be very intense at times.

“But Esher are an ambitious club who have some tremendous people behind the scenes.

“They give up their time and finance for the good of the club and have always given me tremendous support.

“My immediate boss is John Inverdale and we talk all the time about things.

“Wherever he is in the world, he will always phone me after every game and we talk through everything.”

Schmid has been planning for life in the Championship for several months and is hoping for a player budget in excess of £600,000 for next season, thanks to increased funding from the RFU and Premier Rugby Limited of about £275,000 for Championship sides.

But Esher chiefs have warned Schmid they will have to keep a tight rein on finances and will not put the club’s future in jeopardy.

Schmid added: “Obviously, I will be trying to get as much as I can for players but I totally understand that they must balance the books and will be very cautious. I respect that.

“From day one, the situation has been that they are not going to sacrifice the club for the first team.

“That ethos is rare in the modern game but it is vital to the sustainability of a rugby club.

“A lot of clubs have gone into administration because the first team has dominated everything but Esher will not let that happen and they are quite right not to do so.”

Esher face a difficult trip to Wharfedale on Saturday and Schmid is keen to keep their unbeaten run going.

He said: “They are a very good side and this is one of the most difficult trips of the season.

“It should be a good game as they like to play open rugby, too.

“They will be determined to spoil the party.

“The pressure is off us now we have won the title but I don’t want the guys to be complacent. “ Esher ran in five tries against Blaydon through Dave Millard, James Tubasei, Tom Loizides, Garrick Cowley and Joe Marler while Ross Chisholm converted three.