Welcome to Dorking RFC

Winners 2005/6

9th Apr

1st Apr 09

16th Mar

22nd Dec

5th Nov

Three Dorking players represent Surrey U19 in National Colts Sevens and CarrickFergus Sevens  winning squad.

 

 

Dorking's Ben Francis plays for Scotland in 17-3 win against England U16 - Dorking boys Rob Stephen plays fly half for England in the same game

Pundit Sole cuts off his sleeves

Photos at www.dorkingrugbyclub.co.uk - worth viewing if only to see a taff in Flamboyant Jock Tribal attire!

There was a large turnout at the Big Field last week for the visit of former Scottish captain and British Lion David Sole. Sole led a popular whisky tasting for The Balvenie where he is a brand ambassador before submitting to a Q&A session at the hands of former Welsh schoolboy international Jim Evans, who out of respect for the visiting dignitary wore a kilt for the evening. Evans commented," It was on on fabulous evening. The Balvenie Tasting was interesting as well as refreshing and it got the audience in the right mood for the interview. David entered into the spirit of the evening and was a great sport. He even recreated the famous slow walk on to the pitch before the Grand Slam victory over England at Murrayfield in 1997" Evans added" He has texted us since to say that seeing an entire English Rugby Club singing Flower of Scotland is definitely one of the highlights of his career.

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Dorking in the spotlight 

There was a larger than usual turn out at rugby training at The Big Field last week as news spread of the presence of Sky Sports cameras. Club Captain Michael Kornrumpf explained,” Sky’s programme The Rugby Club  is doing a feature on England and London Irish scrum half Paul Hodgson who has been a regular guest coach throughout the season. The Sky boys filmed him in throughout the session. It certainly lifted the skill levels, as no one wanted to be spotted spilling the ball on satellite TV. We even had some of the Committee turning up at training and you don’t get that very often.” The feature is expected to be broadcast on The Rugby Club edition on Thursday evening.

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Scots Rugby Great to Visit Dorking

Scotland and British Lion icon David Sole will be visiting Dorking Rugby Club sometime in March as part of the fund raising for the Club’s redevelopment appeal. Dorking Chairman Shaun Grady explained; “One of the under 8 parents, Greg Norman is working with David as an ambassador for The Balvenie Distillery in Banffshire. Greg has managed to persuade the forty four times capped Scots’ skipper to host a malt whisky tasting at the rugby club as part of the ‘Age group Challenge’”. Grady added; “We’ve just about forgiven him for is part in the famous walk on defeat of England in the Grand Slam decider back in 1990. It also turns out he was born in Aylesbury, so we are hoping for a really big turn out. David has agreed to be interviewed by Jim Evans (the club's expert on the water of life!) in a no holds barred Q&A session”. All the details are on the rugby club’s website.

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Chairman's  Round Up so far

At this rate we’re going to get a nosebleed.  In the pre credit crunch pre season we’d been hugely determined to be in the mix for promotion come April, but hadn’t necessarily banked on the first fifteen being unbeaten in league and cup at October half term. And its pretty much straight As all round in the report card landing on the doormat. It’s certainly an A for attendance. Forty plus players are routinely turning out for senior training under the newly installed training lights and even greater numbers and diversity taking to the Big Field for the celebrated Wednesday Night Touch Rugby. With over five hundred boys and girls signed up, the youth section has retained its incredible popularity and critical place as the nursery for our sustained success. It’s brilliant to see the latest generation of the youth production line prominent in the current senior success. Matt Noble, Harry and Ted Watts, Chris Brown, Robbie Fee, Adam Cooper, James Catton and Georges Spreckly and Evans are all equipping themselves wonderfully well. With plans in place for the Under 21 team over the student Christmas holidays, we’re working hard to maintain the pull through from the junior ranks. Top marks too for attainment. Richie Andrews and his coaching team have reached these giddy heights playing high class and entertaining rugby. The A team is unbeaten and the Extra As are proving a competitive outfit demonstrating an incredible strength in depth. Tougher fixtures in league and cup lie immediately ahead as we face our closest challengers, Cobham, Chobham and Basingstoke over the next phase of the league programme. High marks for effort extend across all our activities. The level of medical provision has moved to another level under Issy Heppenstall, not least the regular Pilates sessions which have the senior members mumbling into their beer in search of their own inner strength. For those already making Christmas shopping lists, Head of Merchandising Karen Thomas has extended the range of items available in the Club shop including this year’s must have seasonal gift, the much awaited DRFC boxer shorts. We’ve also taken huge strides in securing local business support with most of the senior playing squad now individually sponsored by a local business ranging from Abacab Taxis to Box Hill Caravans. Sponsors are promoted on the website and in the excellent league match programme produced by our very own baron of the press Paul Mosley. Continuing the theme there is even be an upcoming parents evening in the form of the official Big Switch On ceremony for the new floodlights on November 13^th . All members are invited to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the redevelopment project. The outline plans for the next phase of the redevelopment of the Clubhouse have been discussed with the Club’s Vice Presidents and will be given another airing at an open meeting of Brockham Parish Council and at the Club’s Annual General Meeting later in November. At the AGM members will also vote on the proposal to restructure the rugby club into a company and registered charity. All part of making the Club fit for purpose for the challenges ahead. November also brings the beginning of the rugby club social season starting with the fund raising Auction of Promises on November 21^st. Tricia Irvine has taken over Events Management for the club and plans are well advanced for the Christmas Ball on December 12^th and an exclusive  Balvenie Whisky Tasting event with Scotland and British Lions legend David Sole in January. Exciting times. Hold on to your hats.