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Dorking Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union football club, originally based in
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 2012.
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
John Douglas Youth Development Fund
took place on Wednesday 15 March 2017. Joined by members of John's family and his former colleagues from Surrey RFU, it was a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to DRFC and the wider rugby community over many years and whose enormous passion for the sport has benefited so many of our players. The primary aim of the JDYDF is to "fund or part fund specific projects or initiatives in the support of obtaining the highest possible standard and engagement of rugby through Dorking Rugby Club with particular emphasis on Youth Development".
Dorking
Dorking () is a market town in Surrey in South East England, about south of London. It is in Mole Valley District and the council headquarters are to the east of the centre. The High Street runs roughly east–west, parallel to the Pipp Br ...
, Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
and play in the nearby village of Brockham. The club currently play in the fourth tier (National League 2 East
National League 2 East is a new rugby union league at level four in the English rugby union system and provides semi-professional competition for teams in London, South East England and East of England. The remainder of England is covered b ...
) of English club rugby.
About
With over 700 active registered players, the club runs four senior sides and is a home-club to many internationals such asElliot Daly
Elliot Daly (born 8 October 1992) is an English professional rugby union player who plays for Saracens in the Gallagher Premiership and for England.
Youth
Daly played his early rugby at Beckenham from age five before moving to Dorking in 2006, ...
, George Kruis, and Kay Wilson
Kay Wilson (born 19 September 1991) is an English rugby union player for . She was included in the 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup, 2014 and 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup's.
Career
Wilson was born in 1991 and she was playing at the age of five and ...
; a ladies team, and a large youth section aged between 5 and 18.
History
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 2012.
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
National League 2 South (known before September 2009 as National Division Three South) was a level four league in the English rugby union system until the end of season 2021–22. It was one of two leagues at this level, with its counterpart, N ...
, finishing fourth in 2014–15, their highest league position to date. However the 2015–16 season saw the club lose many players such as hooker Ross Grimstone to Richmond F.C.
Richmond Football Club is a rugby union club from Richmond, London. It is a founding member of the Rugby Football Union, and is one of the oldest football clubs (of any code). It fields teams in both men's and women's rugby; the men's first t ...
& 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.
Current standings
John Douglas Youth Development Fund
The official launch of thJohn Douglas Youth Development Fund
took place on Wednesday 15 March 2017. Joined by members of John's family and his former colleagues from Surrey RFU, it was a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to DRFC and the wider rugby community over many years and whose enormous passion for the sport has benefited so many of our players. The primary aim of the JDYDF is to "fund or part fund specific projects or initiatives in the support of obtaining the highest possible standard and engagement of rugby through Dorking Rugby Club with particular emphasis on Youth Development".
Honours
* Surrey 1 champions: 1988–89 * London 3 South West champions: 1989–90 * London 2 South champions: 1990–91 * London Division 4 South West champions: 2005–06 * London 2 (south-east v south-west) promotion play-off winners: 2006–07 * Powergen Junior Vase: 2006 * London 1 (north v south) promotion play-off winners: 2008–09 *Surrey Cup
The Surrey Cup is an annual rugby union knock-out club competition organized by the Surrey Rugby Football Union. The original cup competition was first played for back in 1890, the inaugural winners being Lennox, but was discontinued in 1909, ...
winners (3): 2010, 2014, 2017
* National League 3 London & SE champions: 2013–14
References
External links
* {{National League 2 South Rugby union teams in England Rugby clubs established in 1921 Rugby union clubs in Surrey