Full name | Dorking Rugby Football Club |
---|---|
Union | RFU |
Founded | 1921 |
Region | Surrey Rugby Football Union |
Ground(s) | The Big Field, Brockham (Capacity: (1,000+) all standing) |
Chairman | Shaun Hammond |
President | John Aarvold |
Coach(es) | Armand Roux |
Captain(s) |
Harry Watts (Club) Vacant (1st XV) |
League(s) | National League 2 South |
2015–16 | 14th (relegated to National League 3 London & SE) |
Official website | |
www |
Harry Watts (Club)
Dorking Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union football club, originally based in Dorking, Surrey and now play in the nearby village of Brockham. The club play in the fifth tier (National League 3 London & SE) of English club rugby. The club runs four senior sides and is a homeclub to many internationals such as Elliot Daly and George Kruis , a ladies team, and a youth section.
Dorking RFC was founded in 1921 with a single team; a second team followed in 1928. The club ceased to play in 1940 due to the demands of World War II. It was re-established in 1946, initially with a single team, but grew rapidly as 2nd (1947), 3rd (1948) and 4th (1954) teams were formed.
The club moved to The Big Field in Brockham in 1972 when it was granted a 50-year lease by the National Trust. This was extended with another 50-year lease in 2011.
The first youth team – Dorking Schoolboys XV – was formed in 1951 with a single team of 13- to 18-year-olds. By 1965 this had grown to the point of splitting into three age banded teams. A mini section (for girls and boys aged 6–12) followed in 1980 and the first ladies team in 1988. Dorking youth teams have twice triumphed in the National under-17 cup, winning the main competition in 2007 and the Shield in 20012.
The 1st XV was promoted to the RFU National Leagues (National League 3 London & SE) in 2009 and at the end of the 2013–14 season won promotion to National League 2 South, finishing fourth in 2014–15, their highest league position to date. However the 2015/2016 season saw the club lose many key stars such as hooker Ross Grimstone to Richmond F.C. & scrum half Will Crow to Rosslyn Park F.C. who represented the England Counties side in a game against Romania , in the summer prior to the end of 2014/15.
After the disappointing 2015/16 season , the club had a major restructure resulting with the departure of director of rugby Richei Andrews. An the appointment of the former 1st xv captain Armand Roux.